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Science

Zoo's Deadly Missing Cobra Tweeting Her Whereabouts

By NewsCore
Published | Updated
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An Egyptian cobra, similar to the one seen here, has escaped from on off-exhibit enclosure at the Bronx Zoo March 25. The exhibit will remain closed until the snake is found, museum officials said. (Mark O'Shea/WHO)

NEW YORK – A poisonous Egyptian cobra that escaped from her enclosure at the Bronx Zoo was Monday taking in the sights of New York City -- if her Twitter account was to be trusted.

Pranksters have seized upon the tale of the 20-inch-long (50cm) snake that escaped from her enclosure at the reptile house on Friday and has not been seen since, and have set up an @BronxZoosCobra Twitter account.

"I should take in a Broadway show. Anyone heard anything about this 'Spiderman' musical?" she tweeted on Monday afternoon.

"Holding very still in the snake exhibit at the Museum of Natural History. This is gonna be hilarious!" another read.

The brownish cobra, with a uniquely large, broad head, is among the most venomous reptiles on the planet -- its poison can kill a person in fewer than 15 minutes.

According to legend, Cleopatra used its venom to commit suicide, but the tweeting snake didn't want the people of New York to be worried.

"Want to clear up a misconception," the tweeting snake wrote. "I'm not poisonous as has been reported. I'm venomous. Super venomous, but not poisonous so don't worry."

The snake has even been responding to her followers -- which by early Tuesday morning numbered almost 24,000.

When asked about the revolution in Egypt, she tweeted, "Obviously I'm a big fan of freedom!"

Meanwhile, zoo officials conceded Monday it may take them weeks to find the female cobra, born a few months ago and dubbed Cobra-dini by zoo-goers.

"We understand the interest in this story and that everyone wants us to find the missing snake," James J. Breheny, the zoo's director, said in a statement to the New York Times.

"Right now, it's the snake's game. At this point, it's just like fishing; you put the hook in the water and wait. Our best strategy is patience, allowing her time to come out of hiding."