One-third of cobra bites are dry: What are dry bites, and are they fatal?

Cobra bites, though feared, often result in ‘dry bites’ where no venom is injected, accounting for 20-30% of cases. While these bites cause pain and swelling, they lack the systemic effects of envenomation. Cobras use dry bites defensively to conserve venom, a process taking days to replenish, and medical attention is still crucial to prevent complications.