'Houdini' back on display at Pretoria Zoo

The Pretoria Zoo's elusive black mamba, nicknamed Houdini, was returned to its public display terrarium on Tuesday.

The snake had not been on view since its re-capture around three weeks ago, spokesman Craig Allenby said.

"It's the first time we are placing Houdini back on display. We have kept him off the exhibit," he said.

The two-metre-long reptile gazed through the glass as dozens of cameras clicked away.

Anxious school pupils touring the zoo's reptile park lined up at Houdini's enclosure to observe the now famous reptile.

The snake escaped from its enclosure on March 11 and was re-captured on April 7.

An extensive search took place, amid suggestions that Houdini had been stolen.