Rare Two-Headed Snake Undergoes Surgery in Missouri to Treat an ‘Rising Health Situation’

“I’m so joyful that our two-headed gal is getting the care she wants,” mentioned wildlife naturalist Lauren Baker

A two-headed western rat snake named Tiger-Lily deliberate to depart the Powder Valley Nature Center this month to tour round Missouri till wildlife naturalist Lauren Baker found the snake had an “rising well being situation.”

Baker shared on the Missouri Department of Conservation’s web site that a few weeks in the past, Tiger-Lily sneezed up traces of blood throughout a feeding. “This instantly raised a pink flag with our workers, and we rapidly bought her an appointment with the Animal Health Team on the Saint Louis Zoo,” wrote Baker.

Once Tiger-Lily arrived on the Saint Louis Zoo, the park’s veterinarians found the snake’s “ovaries have been in pre-ovulatory stasis.”

“Under regular circumstances, the ovary would develop follicles, then ovulate them as eggs to ultimately be laid,” zoo veterinarian Dr. Michael Warshaw defined.

However, in Tiger-Lily’s case, though her reproductive cycle started, “the follicles didn’t ovulate and as an alternative continued to develop and stay static in her ovary. Over time, this led to irritation and the danger of an infection.”

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As a end result, the snake underwent surgical procedure on the Saint Louis Zoo Endangered Species Research Center and Veterinary Hospital on March 11 to have her ovaries eliminated.

“We appreciate the Saint Louis Zoo’s quick response and expert treatment,” mentioned Baker. “I am so happy that our two-headed gal is getting the care she needs, and we’re all wishing her a safe and speedy recovery.”

Post-op Tiger-Lily is resting off-exhibit on the Powder Valley Nature Center till her restoration is full, which is estimated to take a month. Tiger-Lily will then go on the Missouri tour that was deliberate.

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The five-foot-long snake was found in Stone County, Mo., within the fall of 2017.

“Tiger-Lily is definitely a pair of conjoined an identical snake twins that have been by no means fully separated,” reported the Missouri Department of Conservation. “Such snakes are hardly ever seen within the wild, partly as a result of snakes born this manner have a low survival price.”

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“For each 100,000 snake births, only one might be a two-headed snake,” based on The Reptarium. “That’s a 0.001% probability of reproducing a two-headed snake.”

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