Paperboy Comment: We debated posting this as, but it is in the public venue now and we as a community should be aware of it. There is supposed to be a link to the video at the press URL, but it does not come through my firewall. Wes



THE MIRROR (London, UK) 09 May 07 Forced To Fight A Cobra (Mark Ellis)

A baby is made to battle with a cobra during a shocking snake-charming festival.

The year-old tot is repeatedly struck as he tries to grab his "opponent".

But he avoids deadly bites because the snake has had its mouth stitched up and its fangs removed for the amusement of spectators. Animal rights protesters have condemned the cruel scenes - reportedly from Kasimkota in Andhra Pradesh, India - now appearing on the internet.

Apart from wanting to stop cruelty to cobras, they warn that fangs grow back quickly and put kids at risk in villages where snake charmers urge young locals to become revered handlers.

Several people are killed each year. And the headman of Kasimkota - which has 60 families of "snake people" - died when he was bitten on the thigh by a supposedly safe cobra.



http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_headline=forced-to-fight-a-cobra&method=full&objectid=19067570&siteid=89520-name_page.html

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