PEORIA (June 22, 2022) – One of Peoria Zoo's largest animals is getting a new home this Thursday. Louise, the Burmese Python, is moving down the hall within the Tropics Building at Peoria Zoo.
"The new exhibit gives her more space to explore and a few more amenities," stated Yvonne Strode, Peoria Zoo Director. "It also enhances the visitor experience," Strode continued.
The new exhibit features a pool that is 7ft by 3ft where people can come eye-to-eye with her. It also features a large tree, large concrete areas that will encourage the snake to explore, heated floors and 2 basking areas.
Down the hall in her current exhibit, 2 prehensile tailed skinks will be moved from the Conservation Center. At this point, the old skink exhibit will be removed.
The Zoo staff will move the snake the morning of June 23rd and the media is invited to get a sneak peek of the exhibit at 9:30am. All media can come to the old Zoo entrance, to the left as you enter Glen Oak Park.
Louise came to Peoria Zoo in October 2016 and is currently 14 years old. She is almost 17 feet long and 222 pounds. The Burmese Python is near threatened according to IUCN, endangered according to USFWS, and is listed in appendix II of CITES.
A few other fun facts about the reptile:
- Solitary animal
- Excellent swimmer
- Good climbers with prehensile tails
- Can be albino
- Considered a primitive snake having two functional lungs and vestigial (left over) hind limbs. These limbs look like spurs on either side of the cloaca
- Can swallow 4-5 times as wide as their head
- Can go for months without eating
- One of the largest snakes
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