A deadly snake, whose venom could kill a human in around 15 minutes, is missing from New York’s Bronx Zoo.
Staff at the zoo noticed the adolescent Egyptian cobra had gone from an off-exhibit enclosure at the complex yesterday.
They have since closed off and secured the entire reptile house while they search for the lost snake.
Deadly: A venomous Egyptian Cobra, that could kill a human in 15 minutes, has escaped from its tank at the Bronx Zoo
Zoo officials said they are confident the 20-inch-long snake is contained in an isolated area of the building the public are not allowed in to.
‘Based on our knowledge of the natural history and behaviour of snakes we know they seek closed-in spaces and are not comfortable in open areas,’ a statement from the zoo read.
The Egyptian cobra is most commonly found in North Africa.
Lock down: Staff at the zoo immediately closed the reptile house and said they were sure the snake was contained within a non-public area of the enclosure
Its venom is so deadly it can kill a full-grown elephant in three hours – or a person in about 15 minutes, according to wildlife experts.
The venom destroys nerve tissue and causes paralysis and death due to respiratory failure.
Scholars believe the Egyptian cobra was known in ancient times as the asp. Legend has it that Cleopatra, the ancient Egyptian queen, used an asp to commit suicide.
By Daily Mail Reporter
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