The success of the first electrochemotherapy procedure for a snake at Chester Zoo

The snake, called Jodie Foster, is 4.5 meters long and weighs 50 kilograms, and is over 23 years old. She lives in the British Chester Zoo.

The snake's name dates back to the day it arrived in the garden, when its leaves bore the abbreviation "JF", which means "young female", so the abbreviation turned into the name of the famous Hollywood star Jodie Foster.

The snake's rescue journey began when zookeepers noticed that it was eating less and becoming more lethargic, and after examination, it was diagnosed that it had a fibrosarcoma tumor in its jaw.

Although the tumor was surgically removed, it returned again and began to invade the jawbone, making her condition critical and threatening her ability to eat.

To confront the danger, veterinarians resorted to electrochemotherapy, a procedure that combines an anti-cancer drug with electrical pulses directed at the tumor site, which increases the permeability of cancer cells to the drug and enhances its effectiveness. It took collaboration with cancer specialists to adapt this treatment to a snake, which is the first time it has been applied to a snake, according to the medical team.

Due to the snake's massive size, no standard operating table was large enough to hold it, so two tables were joined together to form a platform the size of a double bed. The snake underwent a 90-minute operation, during which the tumor and the affected part of the jawbone were removed, and the area then received electrochemotherapy to target any remaining cancer cells.

After months of treatment, the snake returned to eating normally and regaining its usual activity. The final examination this week confirmed that she was free of any signs of cancer returning, which represents a great success for the medical team.

José Alvarez Pecornel, from the University of Liverpool, praised this achievement, saying: “Electrochemotherapy is an emerging treatment option, and applying it to a snake for the first time opens new horizons in veterinary medicine. We will publish the details of the procedure officially for the benefit of veterinarians around the world.”