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  • Jodie Foster, a fifteen-foot reticulated python at Chester Zoo, is the first known snake to undergo electrochemotherapy for cancer treatment.
  • The procedure combined surgical tumor removal with electrical pulses to enhance chemotherapy drug absorption, resulting in a complete recovery.
  • Veterinarians plan to publish their findings to help establish protocols for treating similar conditions in other reptile species.

A fifteen-foot reticulated python residing at Chester Zoo in England has become the first known snake to successfully undergo electrochemotherapy for cancer. The animal, identified by keepers as Jodie Foster due to initials on her intake paperwork, is now officially free of the disease that had threatened her life. This medical breakthrough represents a significant expansion of oncological treatments previously reserved for humans and common domestic pets like dogs and cats.

The python arrived at the zoo approximately two decades ago and remained healthy until roughly two years prior to the treatment. During that period, staff noticed a decline in her appetite and increased lethargy. Initial veterinary intervention involved the surgical removal of a malignant tumor located in her jaw. However, the cancer proved persistent, with another growth appearing in the same area about a year after the first operation.

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The recurrence of the tumor created a critical situation for the reptile. The mass made it increasingly difficult for her to consume food, posing a direct threat to her survival. Veterinarians determined that additional surgery alone would likely be insufficient to save her. Consequently, the medical team at Chester Zoo collaborated with experts from the University of Liverpool to devise a more aggressive and innovative treatment plan.

The chosen approach involved combining surgical excision with electrochemotherapy. This technique utilizes short, intense electrical pulses applied directly to the cancer site. These bursts temporarily increase the permeability of diseased cell membranes, allowing traditional chemotherapy drugs to enter the cells more effectively. While this method has been used in human medicine since the 1990s and is now available for some companion animals, its application in snakes had never been documented before.

Executing the procedure required significant logistical adjustments due to the python’s size. Weighing approximately 110 pounds, the animal could not fit on a standard operating table. The veterinary team joined two tables together to accommodate her length. Throughout the ninety-minute surgery, she was kept under anesthesia while heated blankets and warmed air maintained her body temperature at stable levels.

During the operation, surgeons removed part of the affected jaw tissue. They then applied chemotherapy medication directly to the remaining tissue. Following this, metal electrodes were placed into the area to deliver the necessary electrical pulses. This step was designed to open up the cancer cells and improve the intake of the chemotherapeutic agents, maximizing the treatment's efficacy.

The procedure took place in October 2025. In the months following the intervention, the python demonstrated a rapid healing response. Her mouth recovered quickly, and she resumed her typical diet without difficulty. Staff reported that she began putting on weight and returned to her previously observed bright and feisty demeanor, indicating a full recovery from the malignancy.

Veterinarians involved in the case emphasize the broader implications of this success. Jose Alvarez Picornell, a veterinarian at the University of Liverpool who helped develop the treatment plan, noted that this was the first time electrochemotherapy had been used in a snake. The team intends to formally publish the details of the procedure.

The publication of these findings aims to contribute to the wider veterinary community. By sharing their approach, the experts hope to provide a framework for colleagues around the world who may encounter similar oncological challenges in reptiles. This case establishes a new precedent for treating cancer in large snakes, offering a viable option where surgery alone might fail.

The success of this treatment highlights the adaptability of modern medical techniques across different species. While electrochemotherapy is not new, its translation to exotic wildlife requires careful consideration of anatomy and physiology. The python’s recovery suggests that with proper adaptation, advanced cancer therapies can be extended to non-traditional patients, potentially saving lives in zoological collections worldwide.

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Go to the original reporting

  • Smithsonian Magazine↗This 15-Foot Python Is the First Known Snake to Receive Electrochemotherapy for Cancer. Now, She's Officially Free of the Disease