This is the astonishing moment a fierce rat battled with a cobra - refusing to become dinner - and killed the reptile before succumbing to its deadly poison.

The rare footage of the wild animals battling on grassland was taken in Assam state, India.

Villagers cheered for the brave rat as it sunk its teeth into the deadly cobra, which was determined to eat the rodent.

The rat bit the snake repeatedly on its lower body while trying to avoid the cobra's bites. However, it was struck by the cobra, which inflicted venom into the rat.

Onlooker Aftaf Ali said the rat beat the snake but it later died due to the poisonous cobra bites.

He said: “We were outside the police station when we saw the two animals fighting. It was like a boxing match, each person had their own bet.”