Seven years ago, a family in southwest Missouri found a two-headed western rat snake they named Tiger-Lily, or Tiger and Lily. She was donated to the Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Center in Branson, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). Western rat snakes are non-venomous and a common native species in Missouri.
A few days ago, MDC’s Facebook page posted: “After a successful treatment at Saint Louis Zoo, we’re wishing Tiger-Lily a speedy recovery.”
But what happened to Tiger-Lily?
Tiger-Lily sneezed up traces of blood during a feeding about two weeks ago. “This immediately raised a red flag with our staff, and we quickly got her an appointment with the Animal Health Team at the Saint Louis Zoo,” wrote Lauren Baker, an MDC naturalist, in a statement.
Saint Louis Zoo veterinarians discovered that the female snake’s ovaries were in pre-ovulatory stasis. Under normal circumstances, the ovary would grow follicles, then ovulate them as eggs to be eventually laid, explained Dr. Michael Warshaw, Staff Veterinarian at the Saint Louis Zoo.
However, the follicles in Tiger-Lily’s ovary did not ovulate. Instead, it continued to grow and remain static in the ovary, causing inflammation over time and posing a risk of infection.
This condition is a common illness in reptiles where the ovaries are in a state of temporary suspension or inactivity before ovulation. Then the ovary starts to grow follicles in preparation for them to mature into eggs and ovulate. Sometimes, things can go wrong, leaving the follicles attached to the ovary, potentially causing the follicles to become infected and even rupture.
Recovery post-surgery
The snake underwent surgery at the Saint Louis Zoo Endangered Species Research Center and Veterinary Hospital on March 11. Her doctors deemed the removal of Tiger-Lily’s abnormal ovaries to be the best course of action. The surgery was successful. The doctors revealed that Tiger-Lily was doing well and is currently recovering.
“We appreciate the Saint Louis Zoo’s quick response and expert treatment. I am so happy that our two-headed gal is getting the care she needs,” said Baker, wishing Tiger-Lily a safe and speedy recovery.
A one in 100,000 odds
Feeding Tiger-Lily isn’t the easiest job. “Both heads want to eat, but they only have one esophagus,” said Interpretive Center Manager Alison Bleich earlier this year. “We put a small cup over one head while the other eats, then switch. Otherwise, both would be trying to grab the same mouse.”
According to Alex Holmes, a naturalist, conjoined snakes are born in about one in every 100,000 births. “In the wild, those that survive probably wouldn’t be able to escape predators due to their body’s lack of dominate leadership,” Holmes said three years ago in a statement.
Tiger-Lily will not be on display as she recovers. And it could be another month before she recovers, according to her doctors.
