Bronx Zoo cobra may be loose for weeks

Depending upon whom you believe, a nearly two-foot-long cobra which has gone missing at the Bronx Zoo is either hiding somewhere within the Zoo's Reptile House - or living it up in the Big Apple.

On Sunday it was discovered that an adolescent Egyptian cobra has escaped from its enclosure. The 20-inch-long snake weighs less than 3 ounces. Tiny, right? Its venom, which affects the nervous system, can cause death due to respiratory failure.

Zoo officials said they are confident the snake is still within the Reptile House. Staffers are conducting daily sweeps of the premises.

Bronx Zoo Director Jim Breheny said the snake has likely sought a secure hiding spot (possibly among the pipes of the building) and, when it feels safe, will move around in search of food.

"Right now, it's the snake's game," Breheny said yesterday. "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."

He said the process may take days, or even weeks.

But zoo staffers trying to track down the missing snake might do well to check Twitter, which is now crawling with messages from the "cobra" as it explores New York City.

Since Monday humorous Twitter posts allegedly by the snake-on-the-town have already attracted a huge fan base, with BronxZoosCobra attracting more than 28,000 followers with its escapades in the urban jungle.

Early Show: Missing cobra tweeting away!

Some samples:

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

"Rockefeller Plaza is amaz....wait...OMG! Tina Fey totally just walked by me! HUUUUGE FAN! #snakeonthetown"

"Leaving Wall Street. These guys make my skin crawl."

"A lot of people are asking how I can tweet with no access to a computer or fingers. Ever heard of an iPhone? Duh."

If zoo officials are correct and it is weeks until the snake is recovered, BronxZoosCobra is bound to have a very fun spring.

[Delneter]

The cobra is still hold up in the Primate house with hostages and has released a list of demands:

Bronx Zoo Egyptian Cobra Escapes, List Of Demands Read by Orangutan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtdCal2r7Rg

[licht1]

We may have found a viable Urban Snake Search Strategy.

See http://******/fEyQni

[john5673]

Sen. Dick Durbin did the marvelous thing in calling for this kind of hearing. He has really echoed the sentiment and feelings of many our great human rights activists including Martin Luther King. In America all citizens have equal rights, equal respect and equal protection too. Muslims in America have suffered too much after the 9/11 for no good reason except the culprits of the event were Muslims. To fight against terrorism and that too Muslim terrorists, it would be much better that America must stand up for the human rights and equal rights of all Muslims, starting with in America than around the Globe.

[m495]

The dear is frequently termed 'poisonous'. Know any cobras that aren't? ..And those daily sweeps of the reptile house. Nothin' but dust. Idea: turn off the steam heat. If hissing is then heard around pipes, well, that's a sign..Good thing it isn't a mamba; New York could practice its mass-evacuation drills..For bad news, this is great. If it only had an appetite for republicans. (I can hear Mother Cobra now: Don't go near them republicans, you could get poisoned, and then where would I be?)

[KJeroH]

The story says the cobra is 20 inches long yet weighs less than 3 ounces? Maybe a shed skin weighs that much. How about 20 inches and less than 3 pounds?