Arch nemeses: King cobra and grey mongoose clash in classic battle, but who ends up as dinner?



It's the classic battle between two age-old enemies as these two creatures stare into each other's eyes.

This epic showdown between mammal and reptile sees an Indian grey mongoose taking on one of the world's most poisonous snakes - a king cobra.

The pair warily circle each other looking for a weak spot, before the snake strikes in rapid succession at its enemy's face.

What are you staring at? The Indian gray mongoose and king cobra eye each other up

But the mongoose is just too quick as it leaps and dances out of the way before closing in to try and bite the cobra's head.

The two arch nemesis then attempt to stare each other down before striking at each other again to be bring their duel to a close.



Who's for dinner? The mongoose begins circling the snake after spotting it slithering across a patch of open ground

Closing in: Both creatures realise there is no escape and square off against each other

Venomous: The mongoose leaps clear of an attack by the king cobra - one of the most venomous snakes in the world

The footage was taken in southern India after the mongoose stumbled across one of its favourite foods in the wild.

King cobra venom is able to kill a human within just 30 minutes, according to National Geographic.

Indian mongoose are popularly used to fight and kill venomous snakes, because of their rapid reactions and thick coat.



Clash: The pair continue to battle against each other

Killer blow: The mongoose sees its moment after flipping the snake into the air and sinks its teeth into the cobra's head