Snake ranger dies from cobra bite

A well-know local snake ranger (pawang ular), Putu Agus Edi Darmawan (36), from the Village of Gumbrih in Jembrana died after bitten by a King Cobra. Putu Agus was in the process of guiding English and Taiwanese tourists to see a cobra nest located on the banks of the Kutek River in his home village. He was accompanied with a colleague from Bali Reptile Rescue when the bite occurred. While examining a cobra nest containing eggs under a stand of bamboo, Putu Agus was bitten on the index finger of his left hand. The man was rushed to a local health center and then to the Negara General Hospital. While under treatment, Putu Agus lost consciousness and died a short time later.