A 4.5-meter python at Chester Zoo is now in remission after receiving electrochemotherapy, a technique never before used on a snake. The 23-year-old animal, named Jodie Foster, had previously undergone surgery for a tumor, but it had returned, spreading to her jaw.
For this new treatment, the zoo's veterinarians worked with specialists from the University of Liverpool to adapt this treatment, which is used in humans. The method combines an injection of bleomycin with electrical impulses designed to make the cancer cells more sensitive to the drug.
The procedure required special logistics due to the reptile's size. It was anesthetized in its enclosure and then transported to the veterinary center. Two tables had to be assembled to accommodate its 50 kg body.
According to the zoo, the python no longer shows any signs of cancer and has returned to normal behavior. The institution emphasizes that this is a world first for a snake, following some trials on other species such as a tortoise.
 Sophie de Duiéry
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24/08/2026 | 
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