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Bronx Zoo cobra searchers stumped? Just follow her on Twitter.

Bronx Zoo cobra searchers say the snake, which went missing Friday, is likely still in the zoo. But a lampoon Twitter account begs to differ, tweeting the Big Apple adventures of the Bronx Zoo cobra.

By Aaron CouchContributor / March 29, 2011

'Cobra wuz here'? The Bronx Zoo and a meddlesome Twitter account differ over whether the missing Bronx Zoo cobra made a pleasant sightseeing trip to the Empire State Building.

Alfredo Sosa / The Christian Science Monitor / File

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A snake that went missing from New York’s Bronx Zoo on Friday has finally emerged (sort of). Thanks to a Twitter-equipped iPhone, someone claiming to be the baby Egyptian cobra has been tweeting from @BronxZoosCobra, chronicling her Big Apple exploits.

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Zookeepers think the snake is still on zoo premises. According to the Twitter account, the snake has actually been taking in New York's most popular tourist attractions, such as:

  • The Empire State Building: “All the people look like little mice down there. Delicious little mice. #snakeonthetown
  • The financial district: “Leaving Wall Street. These guys make my skin crawl. #snakeonthetown”
  • The Museum of Natural History: “Holding very still in the snake exhibit at the Museum of Natural History. This is gonna be hilarious!"

@BronxZoosCobra has made a lot of friends in the one day into its social media foray, with more than 64,000 followers and counting. Other animals on the lam have enjoyed similar celebrity on Twitter, such as the mystery monkey of Tampa Bay.

But in New York, an antagonist has arisen in the form of @BronxZookeeper, a self-described “disgruntled zookeeper” who is hot on the cobra's trail, tweeting while in pursuit.

“Seriously, @BronxZoosCobra. I give you special entrance to the rodent exhibit and this is how you re-pay me? NOT COOL,” @BronxZookeeper tweeted Monday.

@BronxZookeeper has as of yet had no luck finding the snake. Meanwhile, the official Bronx Zoo Twitter account acknowledged the stir the missing snake has caused:

“We understand interest in this story & that everyone wants us 2 find the missing snake. Right now, it's the snake's game.”

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