What animals do Indian cobras eat?

The Indian cobra (Naja naja) is a generalist predator that consumes a variety of small animals. Its primary prey is the black rat (Rattus rattus), but its diet also includes other rodents, frogs, birds, lizards, and even other snakes.1

The snake captures its prey by biting and injecting venom. It then waits for the victim to become paralyzed before swallowing it whole. Because these snakes often hunt rodents, they are frequently found in areas populated by humans, which can lead to dangerous encounters.1