Deadly cobra found on ship at New Jersey port

ELIZABETH, N.J. (AP) — Snake experts from the Bronx Zoo have rescued a poisonous Indian cobra that stowed away on a container ship headed to New Jersey's Port Elizabeth.

The ship was heading from Singapore to the United States when the crew discovered the cobra in the hold on Dec. 10th.

Two herpetologists from the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo boarded the vessel on Monday to find the animal. It took them about half an hour to locate the 18-inch snake and bag it.

The zoo's Kevin Torregrosa says the year-old snake was dehydrated and weak.

The snake was taken to the zoo, where it will be the only member of its species if it stays.

Zoo officials said Friday that the snake is being treated by veterinarians and its condition has improved.