15-Foot Python Becomes First Known Snake Treated With Electrochemotherapy

A 15-foot reticulated python at England’s Chester Zoo has become the first known snake to receive electrochemotherapy, a treatment that veterinarians say has left her free of cancer. The python, named Jodie Foster after the “JF” initials on her original paperwork, arrived at the zoo about 20 years ago. Around two years ago, keepers noticed that she was eating less and had become lethargic. Veterinarians removed a malignant tumor from her jaw, but another tumor developed roughly a year later. The growth made it increasingly difficult for Jodie Foster to eat and threatened her life, according to Chester Zoo. Because another operation alone was unlikely to provide a lasting solution, the veterinary team combined surgery with electrochemotherapy. The procedure took place in October 2025. Two operating tables were pushed together to support the python’s 110-pound body. She was anesthetized for the 90-minute operation, while heated blankets and warm air helped maintain her body temperature. Veterinarians removed part of her jaw and placed chemotherapy medication into the remaining tissue. They then inserted small metal electrodes and delivered short electrical pulses. The pulses make cancer cells more penetrable, allowing them to absorb more of the drug. Electrochemotherapy was first used in humans in the 1990s and is also used to treat some cats and dogs. According to Jose Alvarez Picornell, a University of Liverpool veterinarian involved in Jodie Foster’s treatment plan, this was the first time the technique had been used on a snake. Following the operation, the python’s mouth healed quickly. She resumed her usual diet, began gaining weight and returned to what Chester Zoo described as her “bright and feisty” self. The veterinary team plans to formally publish details of the procedure so other veterinary professionals can study and build on the approach. For now, the zoo reports that Jodie Foster has made a complete, cancer-free recovery.