Bronx Zoo Cobra gets name

NEW YORK

The reptile slithered out of her cage on March 25 and, according to her Twitter account (@BronxZoosCobra), went out on the town before being "caught between the moon and New York City" last Thursday - and she did it all with no ID.

The /*Bronx Zoo*/ held a contest to find the right name for this young charlatan that received more than 34,000 submissions. After the nearly 60,000 votes were tallied, Mia came out on top. The name stands for "missing in action," but will be pronounced "Me-ah." Zoo officials say Mia received 27 percent of the vote.

The other four finalists were:

Cleopatra - the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt; supposedly killed herself by means of an Egyptian cobra bite

Subira - the Egyptian word for "patience"

Amaunet - A goddess in Ancient Egyptian religion; meaning "the female hidden one"

Agnes - Greek for pure or holy, also a reference to St. Agnes

Subra came in second, with 24 percent and Amaunet received 20 percent. Cleopatra garnered 18 percent of the vote, while Agnes came in last with 11 percent.

In response to the vote, the cobra posted the following on her Twitter account: "So, the vote is in. They want to name me Mia. But in my heart I'll always know that my true name is Mrs. Justin Bieber."

Now that Mia has received her official name and has settled into her exhibit at the Bronx Zoo's Reptile House, the building will be re-opened to the public on Saturday, April 9, and visitors will be able to see her for the first time.

Opened in 1899, the /*Bronx Zoo*/ is run by the nonprofit Wildlife Conservation Society.

---
Online: BronxZoo.com

Copyright © 2024 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.