Kid Territory:Critters: A SSSnake SSSurvives a SSSicknesss

Ball pythons are named for their habit of coiling into a tight ball when threatened. Nyoka feels safe enough in his home at the Wild Animal Park to stretch out and explore.

Our animal care staff keeps careful records on each animal in our collection. Here, Nyoka’s handlers record his weight and how much he eats at each meal.

Nyoka is very comfortable in his handler’s arms, and is used to being touched by our visitors. His easy-going nature and calm manner make him a wonderful snake ambassador.

Wild Animal Park name: Nyoka (“nYO-ka”)
Species: African ball python
Location: Wild Animal Park's Wildlife Education Compound

His story

Nyoka (Swahili for “snake”) is one popular guy. He’s an animal ambassador with the Wild Animal Park’s Education Department, which means he travels all over the Park, the city, the state, and even the southwestern United States, helping to spread the word about the need for conservation and the dangers of the pet trade. His docile nature and 14 years of experience being photographed and touched by the public has made him one of the Park’s favorite reptile celebrities.

A sick snake

One day the staff that works with Nyoka noticed that he wasn’t eating well. Instead of three mice every other week, Nyoka was eating only one, or none at all. His skin wasn’t shedding in one big inside-out piece like it was supposed to; instead, he was shedding sections of old skin. Then he started to lose weight. Education animals are weighed regularly, and thorough records are kept on weight loss or gain, food intake, program use, handling time, behavior, and general health. The people who worked with Nyoka also noted that he seemed weak and wobbly. And his once dry, muscular body was beginning to feel a bit “squishy.” The symptoms were all very subtle—it’s not easy to tell when a snake doesn’t feel well—but it was clear that a vet should have a look.

After his check-up, Nyoka was monitored even more closely than before. The temperature and humidity in his enclosure was adjusted and watched carefully. Still, he showed no signs of improvement. It was time to go to the Park’s hospital, the Paul Harter Veterinary Medical Center.

A hospital stay

Blood tests were performed, and vets discovered that Nyoka’s white blood cell count was high. This meant there was an infection somewhere in his body. They treated him with antibiotics to fight the infection. But how do you get a snake to take his medicine? You have to give him a shot! Nyoka was given a shot every other day.

Nyoka had his own enclosure at the hospital, where he had plenty of visitors. The educators and trainers often came to handle Nyoka so that he would have some positive interactions with people instead of just being handled when it was time for another shot. This was especially important if Nyoka was to continue to be used as an animal ambassador when he became well again.

Back home

After three weeks, Nyoka started feeling like his old slithery self. Now back home, he’s been eating regularly, has gained all his weight back, has had several perfect sheds. He is as handsome and friendly as ever, much to the delight of all who work with him.

Where you can see him

You might meet Nyoka during any of a number of special animal presentations during programs offered by the Wild Animal Park’s Education Department.