Resident Ghanshyam Prasad Bhanware records a fight for catfish between two hungry snakes in Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh state on July 19. The catfish grabs a checkered keelback’s head with its tail locked in the second snake’s jaws. It struggled with two snakes for 30 minutes in that suspended position.

According to Bhanware, the first snake pulled the catfish out of the lake just before its companions emerged and grabbed the tail. “The fish has a very strong will to survive. This is the first time I have seen a fish fight with two snakes at the same time,” Bhanware said.

Finally, the snake below was exhausted and fell into the water. The other snake also slithered away a few minutes later when the catfish began to struggle. The fish survived and swam away.

The checkered keelback is a non-venomous snake that is common in creeks and swamps throughout Asia. Their body is usually olive brown with dark cells. This water snake can grow to 50 – 75 cm long, and specializes in eating frogs, fish and reptile eggs.