The king cobra was renamed “Houdini” by the zoo in honor of the famous magician because its ability to disappear amazed the staff at Skansen Zoo in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. The king cobra made its way over the weekend, resulting in the partial closure of the home. He was still wanted on Monday.
A video captured by a visitor who witnessed the escape shows the reptile, now renamed ‘Houdini’ by the zoo in homage to the famous magician, with its head already suspended between the attachment of a lamp and the bulb is stuck, and one of them pulls itself up the branches of its terrarium. The reptile section was subsequently evacuated and will remain closed pending the capture of the fugitive.
It should be in the ceiling somewhere
The snake, a cold-blooded but warmth-loving animal, is said to be somewhere in the blanket now, according to the zoo. “He won’t theoretically come out, it’s so cold outside that he would fall asleep,” Skansen Aquarium director Jonas Wahlström told AFP.
In order to find his trail, the employees of the institution sprinkle flour and set sticky traps. They have also equipped themselves with special cameras to inspect inaccessible corners.
The zoo’s terrarium has housed king cobras for almost 15 years, but it only took a few days for the new tenant to find a way out, the director added. “That must be a bit clever,” he said, amused.
A potentially deadly bite
According to him, “Houdini” had an advantage over the previous tenants: the staff recently replaced the lamps above the terrarium with energy-saving lamps. “The old lamps were too hot, which kept the snakes away,” says Jonas Wahlström.
“Now it’s not hot anymore and the new king cobra has noticed. He stuck his head between the lightbulb and the lamp attachment and managed to pull himself up to the exit.” According to him, king cobras are calm by nature and are unlikely to attack.
Native to South and Southeast Asia, the king cobra is the world’s longest venomous snake. Its main prey are other snakes, but its bite can be fatal to humans if left untreated.