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Infamous Bronx Zoo Cobra Captured, Tweeting Halts

By DNAinfo Staff on March 31, 2011 3:33pm  | Updated on April 1, 2011 6:30am

The cobra, missing from the Bronx Zoo, was found on Thursday.
The cobra, missing from the Bronx Zoo, was found on Thursday.
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Bronx Zoo

By Elizabeth Ladzinski

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

BRONX — The venomous Egyptian cobra that escaped from the Bronx Zoo on Saturday has been captured.

"We're really happy right now to announce that the cobra that has been missing for the past seven days is here and alive and well," zoo director Jim Breheny said during a press conference.

The roughly 20-inch female snake escaped from her habitat sometime on Friday but never left the Reptile House, according to zoo officials. She was found in a non-public, secluded corner of the house around 9 a.m. on Thursday.

Zoo officials are still investigating how she escaped and are currently double-checking their protocols to keep the incident from happening again.

Breheny said that the zoo might hold a contest to decide on a name for the famous cobra.

She will be held under observation until zoo officials feel she is ready to be put back on exhibit.

Soon after the snake escaped, an unknown Twitter user spoofed the cobra's adventures using the handle @bronxzooscobra. The humorous Twitter cobra quickly garnered 190,000 followers as it detailed an eventful week in the Big Apple.

"Got a bagel at H & H Bagels on upper west side. When I ordered I said, 'I'll have the snakes on a PLAIN.' He did not laugh. Tough crowd," @BronxZoo'sSnake tweeted Thursday morning.

Earlier in the week, the Twitter cobra tweeted about a visit to Planet Rose in the East Village, going up to the top of the Empire State Building, and eating a cupcake at Magnolia Bakery.

The tweets stopped around 2:10 p.m., shortly after the announcement of the real snake's capture. However a new account under the name @BackInTheZoo began tweeting about the cobra's experiences back at the zoo later in the day.

"Rainy days, no visitors. Peace and quiet," @BackInTheZoo tweeted Thursday.