This brave girl’s name is Kajol Khan. She comes from Ghatampur, Uttar Pradesh (India) and is famous for her ability to make friends, even eat and sleep with potentially deadly reptiles. Having been bitten by cobras many times, Kajol Khan is still full of affection when talking about this animal: “I have a lot of fun with cobras. Actually, I was in a lot of pain when they bit me, but it wasn’t entirely their fault. Sometimes it’s my fault for teasing, but overall it’s still very fun.”

Kajol’s father – Taj Mohammad – is now in his fifties but has earned a living by catching snakes in Ghatampur for 45 years. Previously, he passed his profession on to his eldest son Gulab, 31 years old. However, now it seems that youngest daughter Kajol is the most talented apprentice.

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Being friends with snakes, Kajol was bitten many times by these “good friends” on her cheeks, hands and stomach. The powerful venom of the cobra pushed her into a situation many times . Luckily, every time I recovered completely thanks to the tobacco my father picked in the forest. Kajol’s family survives by catching snakes for hire from her father and selling secret medicine to treat cobra venom.

The girl confided further: “I don’t like school. I just like being with these snakes.”

While Salma Bano’s mother worries about her child’s future: “I want her to go to school like other children. If it weren’t for the circumstances, I hope my child’s life would be free from these poisonous snakes. He is so different from other children. Even normal children don’t dare to come into contact with my child for fear of snake bites. Who knows when Kajol loves them. I don’t stop her because I respect her love and choice.”