Reuters / Bronx Zoo / handout
A recovered Egyptian cobra is displayed at the Bronx Zoo in this handout photograph taken and released on March 31, 2011. The cobra, missing for nearly a week from the zoo, was captured on Thursday less than 200 feet from its cage to the relief of neighbors and disappointment of 200,000 people following a Twitter feed in its honor.
Elspeth Lodge Apr 8, 2011 – 1:27 PM ET
The Bronx Zoo’s Egyptian cobra will be back on display Saturday in the zoo’s reptile house with a new name, which was decided by a public vote— an online naming contest sponsored by the New York Daily News and the Wildlife Conservation Society, who runs the Zoo.
The final name was picked from a pool of 60,000 votes.
The mischievous reptile was dubbed “Mia” by the public for “missing in action,” after her notorious escape on March 25.
Mia gained notoriety via the media and from a fan who impersonated her on twitter, who detailed her adventures while on the lam in New York City.
From the Bronx Zoo’s Cobra Twitter Page
“Now that Mia has received her official name and has settled into her exhibit at the Bronx Zoo’s Reptile House,” said a statement from the zoo, “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,” says CNN.
The name Mia emerged in the lead with a 27% approval rating. Though, officials say, it will be pronounced “Me-ah.”
Other high contenders? Subira— “patient” in Egypt— emerged near the top of the list with 24% of the vote; Amaunet— an ancient Egyptian goddess— meaning “the female hidden one” had 27%; Cleopatra—the last ruler of ancient Egypt, who supposedly died via the poisonous venom of an Egyptian Cobra bite, won 18% of the vote. Agnes, Greek for pure and holy, but also a reference to Saint Agnes, was given 11% in the final poll, says CNN.
Posted in: Posted, U.S. Tags: Ancient Egypt, Bronx zoo, CNN, Daily News, Egypt, Egyptian cobra, Wildlife Conservation Society
