In a groundbreaking achievement for wildlife veterinary medicine in Karnataka, a captive Indian rock python from Chitradurga’s Aadumalleshwara Zoo has successfully recovered from a rare benign tumor after undergoing intricate surgery at the Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Centre in Bengaluru.
Veterinarians and officials from the Karnataka Forest Department highlighted the extreme rarity of benign tumors in pythons across the state, with no prior documented instances, especially concerning Indian rock pythons, a species categorized as ‘near threatened’ on the IUCN Red List. This success follows a similar, also rare, case reported in Mumbai last year where a snake received successful treatment.
The journey to recovery began on July 3, when the Aadumalleshwara Zoo, under the management of the Karnataka Forest Department, transferred the affected rock python—suffering from a debilitating tumor in its mouth—to Bengaluru’s People for Animals (PFA) hospital for urgent surgical intervention and rehabilitation. After two months of dedicated post-operative care, the python, which had previously struggled to eat, impressively regained its natural hunting instincts and has since been happily returned to its home at the zoo.
Sources at Aadumalleshwara Zoo confirm that the magnificent reptile has made a complete recovery and is now thriving, living a normal and healthy life.
Dr. Nirupama Jaisingh, a veterinarian associated with a private conservation center that collaborates with the Forest Department, expressed her astonishment, noting that she had never encountered a benign tumor in pythons before. She explained, “While snakes occasionally develop lumps, historical records predominantly attribute these to parasitic infections. This particular benign tumor appears to be an unusual, perhaps incidental, discovery.”
Dr. Navaz Shariff, the lead wildlife veterinarian at PFA responsible for the python’s care, emphasized the critical importance of the tumor’s location. He clarified that, “The tumor was exclusively situated in the lower jaw, severely hindering the snake’s ability to open its mouth and hunt. Without swift and decisive intervention, this majestic reptile would undoubtedly have succumbed to starvation.”
Initial diagnostic smear tests revealed a high count of nucleated red blood cells but a significantly low number of neutrophils, indicating a compromised immune system. Dr. Shariff detailed the next steps: “We proceeded to collect tissue samples from around the growth for histopathology, which confirmed its benign nature and, crucially, that it was not metastatic.” Treatment protocols were immediately initiated following this confirmation.
Given the python’s inability to feed itself, the veterinary team implemented assisted feeding techniques. The delicate surgical removal of the affected tissues was performed using a CO2 laser, a tool highly favored for its precision in treating avian and reptilian tissues. Following the successful procedure, the snake was kept under careful observation, making a full and remarkable recovery within a single month.
While Dr. Shariff speculated on two potential contributing factors for the tumor – the zoo environment and genetic predispositions – he acknowledged that despite thorough discussions with the zoo’s caretakers, no definitive cause could be identified.