U.S Marines drink COBRA BLOOD in Thailand forest training exercise

Mike Gallagher

Feb 20, 2013 - 10:01

Feb 20, 2013 - 10:10

0 8.5k

U.S Marines drink COBRA BLOOD in Thailand forest training exercise

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Startling photographs of a military training exercise in the Thai jungle show U.S. Marines drinking the blood of dead cobras.

A female Marine tips her head back as the blood of a dead cobra is dripped into her mouth in this startling photograph of a military training exercise in the depths of the Thai jungle.

The U.S. soldier is one of around 13,000 taking part in Cobra Gold 2013, an annual, multi-national military training programme that incorporates jungle survival techniques.

After being taught how to kill the venomous snakes by Thai naval instructors, the Marines were given the option of experiencing a local custom; drinking the animals' blood.

$\"Open$

Open wide: A Thai naval instructor drips cobra blood into the mouth of a female Marine in the jungle

$\"Tough:$

Tough: The soldier wipes her mouth after drinking the cobra blood as part of a demonstration on how to kill the venomous snakes

Many of the Marines appeared unperturbed at the prospect of drinking cobra blood, which is sold as an aphrodisiac in parts of Easte Asia.

The U.S. Marines were taking part in Cobra Gold 13 alongside Thai military personnel and soldiers from five other countries; Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

The 11-day military exercise, taking place in Thailand's Chon Buri province, covers amphibious assault, humanitarian relief, and evacuation of friendly forces as well as jungle survival techniques.

$\"Extreme:$

Extreme: A U.S. Marine is seen with the tail of a dead cobra protruding from his mouth during the survival exercise in Sattahip, Thailand

$\"Bizarre:$

Bizarre: The soldiers were drinking the snake blood as part of Cobra Gold 2013, an annual multi-national military training exercise

$\"Jungle$

Jungle training: In parts of easte Asia snake blood is sold as an aphrodisiac

$\"Intensive:$

Intensive: The U.S. Marines are around 13,000 soldiers from seven countries participating in the 11 day training exercise at a military base in Thailand's Chon Buri province