PIX11 NEWSROOM

4:24 p.m. EDT, March 31, 2011
THE BRONX (PIX11)—
The highly venomous cobra that managed to slither past Bronx Zoo workers and escape from its cage last weekend is now back home, zoo officials announced Thursday.

The deadly 20-inch snake was captured five days after it vanished from the zoo's Reptile House, leaving workers scratching their heads and many more local residents worried.

At a press conference, officials revealed that staff used wood shavings with the scent of mice to lure the venomous reptile. Workers were able to locate the snake at around 9 a.m. Thursday in what they described as a "dark, secluded corner" inside the Reptile House.

As many released a sigh of relief following the capture, officials say they will now investigate on how the cobra escaped from its cage last weekend..

The missing case which lasted nearly a week, spawned off a line of merchandise, fodder for late-night talk shows and even a Twitter account.

The Twitter handle @BronxZoosCobra, which tweets in the voice of the missing cobra, has been giving followers hourly updates on its adventures around the Big Apple. Since launching, it has build a strong following topping 200,000 followers.

"If you see a bag of peanuts inexplicably moving along the ground at Yankee Stadium today. Just ignore it. It's probably nothing," @BronxZoosCobra tweeted shortly after the New York Yankees kicked off opening day in the Bronx Thursday.

"We appreciated the element, but at the same time we had to stay focus in recovering the animal," Jim Breheny, Director of the Bronx Zoo told reporters when asked about the Twitter spoof.

CafePress.com also capitalized on the cobra saga, unveiling a long line of products with its New York Cobra logo, mugs, T-shirts and totes.