Chester Zoo python becomes first snake to receive successful cancer treatment

Jodie Foster, a 4.5-meter, 50-kilogram python residing at Chester Zoo in the United Kingdom, has made veterinary history as the first snake to undergo electrochemotherapy. The treatment was administered in October 2025 to combat an aggressive fibrosarcoma located in the reptile's jaw.

Initially, the tumor was removed surgically, but it later returned and began impacting the snake's jawbone, causing a decline in her health and appetite. To save her life, veterinary staff at the zoo collaborated with oncology experts from the University of Liverpool to adapt the procedure, which combines anti-cancer medication with short electrical pulses, for use on a reptile.

Following the innovative intervention, medical evaluations confirmed that the tumor is now in remission. Caretakers report that the python shows no remaining signs of cancer, has resumed normal feeding habits, and has returned to her typically active and resilient behavior. The success of this procedure marks a significant milestone in veterinary medicine, proving that advanced human cancer therapies can be effectively translated to exotic animal care.