By Mail online Reporter

Published: 14:12 GMT, 6 August 2014 | Updated: 14:40 GMT, 6 August 2014

Most children are scared to death of snakes but one 11-year-old girl in India fearlessly refers to the scaly reptiles as her ‘best friends’.

Kajol Khan from Ghatampur, Uttar Pradesh, India, continues to eat and sleep with the deadly animals despite receiving several potentially deadly venom-filled bites.

She said: ‘I have a lot of fun with the cobras. It hurts when they bite me but sometimes it’s my own fault because I tease them. It’s quite funny.’

Come dine with me: Most children are scared to death of snakes but one 11-year-old Kajol Khan from India fearlessly refers to the scaly reptiles as her ‘best friends’

Fearless: The Ghatampur resident continues to eat and sleep with the deadly animals despite receiving several potentially deadly venom-filled bites

Kajol’s father, Taj Mohammad, now in his late fifties, has worked as Ghatampur’s snake catcher for the past 45 years.

He has already passed on his skills to his eldest son Gulab, 31. But now it seems Kajol, the youngest, is keen to join the family business.

‘I don’t like school,’ she said. ‘I much prefer working with the snakes.’

Her bond with the creatures – which stems from crawling around them as a baby – now means they are her favorite companions.

Indian ‘snake girl’ makes best friends with Cobras

Dangerous hobby: Kajol lies unconscious while her mother and father look on after a Cobra bit her on February 22, 2011

Runs in the family: Kajol’s father, Taj Mohammad, now in his late fifties, has worked as Ghatampur’s snake catcher for the past 45 years

Nature-lover: ‘I don’t like school,’ the 11-year-old said, ‘I much prefer working with the snakes’

Since her friendship with the killers began she has been bitten on her stomach, her cheeks and arm. She was seriously ill but made a full recovery.

‘It hurts when they bite me but they don’t mean it,’ she said. ‘I get a little frightened when I see the blood but my father sorts me out. He rushes into the forest and comes back with the medicine.’

Kajol’s father is now famous in his region and is nicknamed Bhura (the snake-catcher). But he earns a measly £14 a job for catching the snakes from houses and shops in the area.

‘We help people in the area and catch the snakes that have slipped into their homes,’ Taj said.

‘My father is a snake catcher, his father was a snake catcher. It’s our family business and we’re very proud of what we do.’

Center of attention: Local children gather to watch as Kajol walks down the street with a Cobra

Best of friends: Her bond with the creatures – which stems from crawling around them as a baby – now means they are her favorite companions

Wounded: Since her friendship with the killers began she has been bitten on her stomach, her cheeks and arm – she was seriously ill but made a full recovery

The medicine comes from the leaves of a wild plant, which remains top secret.

It gets mashed to a pulp and mixed with butter and black pepper. It is then eaten and rubbed on the wound.

‘If the medicine is administered quickly enough it will save you,’ Taj said. ‘It has saved my life many times and it seems to work for Kajol too.’

But Kajol’s mother, Salma Bano, wishes her daughter would grow out of the snake-phase – especially since the youngster was expelled from school for taking her pets to class in her backpack.

‘I want her to go to school like other children. If I had my own way I’d get rid of the snakes but she loves them and so I don’t want to break her heart,’ said Salma.

Family act: Taj Muhammad (left) father of the snake girl, Kajol, and her brother Gulaab Mohammad

Still smiling: It is estimated that venomous snakes are responsible for fifty thousand deaths each year internationally

‘She now refuses to study and will play with the snakes all day.

‘I try to make her study at home but she keeps the snakes with her and gets distracted.’

Taj said: ‘We don’t have many visitors. People don’t like our pet snakes so they stay away.

‘We don’t mind so much, but it’s sad for Kajol. Children are too scared to come round and play with her. She’s just not like other children.’

Her worried mother added: ‘She’ll find it hard to find a husband in the future if she doesn’t stop playing with the snakes.’

It is estimated that venomous snakes are responsible for fifty thousand deaths each year internationally.