Officials have closed the Reptile House at New York’s Bronx Zoo after a poisonous Egyptian cobra disappeared from an enclosure that was separate from the animal exhibits.
Zoo officials said the building was immediately closed and secured after staff learned that the adolescent snake was missing.
The zoo released a statement saying it is confident the 20-inch-long snake is in an area of the building that's not accessible to the public. Snakes usually seek closed-in spaces and are not comfortable in open areas.
Officials said they are informing the public out of an "abundance of caution and will continue to take whatever steps necessary to ensure public safety".
