NY zoo closes reptile house after cobra disappears

NEW YORK (AP) — Officials have closed the Reptile House at New York's Bronx Zoo after a poisonous Egyptian cobra disappeared from an enclosure that's separate from the animal exhibits.

Zoo officials say the building was immediately closed and secured after staff learned that the adolescent snake was missing Friday afternoon.

The zoo released a statement Saturday saying it's 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 aren't comfortable in open areas.

Officials say they are informing the public out of an "abundance of caution and will continue to take whatever steps necessary to ensure public safety."

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