Daijiworld Media Network - Hassan

Hassan, Mar 21: In a heroic act of loyalty, a pet dog sacrificed its life while protecting its owner's children from a 12-foot-long king cobra in Kattaya village, Hassan taluk, on Wednesday. 

Shamanth, the dog's owner, had pet Pitbull and Doberman dogs in his plantation. The Pitbull, named Bhima, displayed extraordinary bravery when a king cobra entered the premises while workers were engaged in their tasks. At the time, children were playing outside, and the snake slithered beneath a cluster of coconut fronds. 

Noticing the reptile, the dogs swiftly pulled it out and engaged in a fierce battle. Hearing the commotion, Shamanth rushed outside and attempted to intervene, but Bhima refused to back down. For over 15 minutes, the dog fought relentlessly, ultimately killing the snake by tearing it into three pieces. 

However, during the intense struggle, the king cobra bit Bhima multiple times on the face, injecting venom. Despite its victory, the brave dog succumbed to the poison shortly afterward. The other dog involved in the fight remained unharmed. 

A local resident captured the dramatic encounter on a mobile phone, and the footage has since gone viral on social media. 

Bhima was a pedigreed dog that had won several awards in dog shows, Shamanth said, mourning the loss of his loyal companion.