Bronx Zoo Escaped Snake

File this under "couldn't have planned it if I tried"! And also the engaging power of social media.

Earlier this week, a small little cobra disappeared from the Bronx Zoo. Pretty dangerous little creature. Probably didn't really disappear or escape (couldn't survive the weather), but is most likely just hiding in the exhibit somewhere out of fear.

Suddenly he (is it a he?) appears on Twitter ... @bronxzooscobra ... and is talking about his adventures around Manhattan. No one knows who is actually doing the tweeting, and the zoo denies knowing anything about it. But the little fella has over 185,000 followers already, meanwhile the zoo itself only has about 6,000.

The guy is having a blast, and even has a hashtag now (#snakeonthetown).

Tweets like this: "Does anyone know if the Whole Foods in Columbus Circle sells organic mice?"

Or: "Give me your tired, your poor, your coiled masses earning to breathe free - powerful words at the Statue of Liberty"

He's conversing with businesses too: "Enjoying a cupcake @magnoliabakery. This is going straight to my hips. Oh wait, I don't have hips. Yesss."

And some are conversing back: The Hilton New York (@hiltonnewyork) wrote: "Do you have a place to stay in NY tonight? We can offer you the penthouse sssuite".

Now if this really is a marketing stunt from the Bronx Zoo then it's brilliant. But somehow I don't think they could have even planned this. It's so fun. But it is bringing a lot of attention to the reptile collection at the zoo, so it will clearly work in their favor. Sort of reminds me of "The Night at the Museum" movie with Ben Stiller.

Love it, let's follow to see where this goes! You can read a little more about it here.

What's your experience? Jim.