Two monocled cobras were seen engaging in a mating ritual at a palm plantation in Thailand.

The pair of reptiles were rustling under the dried leaves before emerging intertwined with each other in Surat Thani province on December 12.

Footage shows the venomous female serpent expanding its hood while a male snake chase and slither around her while occasionally pecking her neck or ‘love biting.'

Amazed tourist Henrik Enevoldsen said: ‘All the snake lovers would be mesmerised to watch such a rare event. I was so lucky to have been nearby and witnessed the scene.'

Henrik added the snakes disappeared back to the bushes after the mating ritual.

Researchers found that 7,000 people are treated for snake bites each year in Thailand. Suchai Suteparuk from the Division of Toxicology at Chulalongkorn University reported that 30 of those die, with cobras being the biggest killer.