Vava Suresh, a well-known snake catcher and wildlife conservationist from the Indian state of Kerala, was recently bitten by a cobra while trying to rescue him from a house in Kottayam district.
According to India Today, Wawa Suresh bandaged his wound, rescued the cobra and went to the hospital.
The video of the incident went viral and Wawa Suresh, who is still undergoing treatment, once again made headlines.
But who is this Vava Suresh, who is associated with 'crocodile hunter' Steve Irwin? And why are they so popular?
The following is the story of 'Snake Master' Wawa Suresh, who not only rescues and catches them, but also raises these deadly snakes like pets.
Vava Suresh had opened his eyes to poverty and lived in a small house in the town of Srikarim in Trivandrum.
His interest in snakes began in childhood. Twelve-year-old Lean Wawa Suresh was going to school in the 1980's when he first encountered a snake.
They caught the cobra and brought it home. Wawa Suresh put the snake in the bottle and kept his guest for 15 days.
This was the beginning of Wawa Suresh's long 'friendship' with this deadly reptile.
He dropped out of school and has since caught 30,000 snakes while biting them 3,000 times.
Vava Suresh has been catching snakes as a social service for over 30 years and helping the Kerala Forest Department.
Wherever a venomous snake is seen in Kerala, Vava Suresh is called to rescue it.
He has traveled to almost all the remote towns of Kerala and is known as the Snack Master because of his passion.
Wawa Suresh has captured about 200 King Cobras which are extremely dangerous and whose poison medicine is not readily available.
