Rattlesnake Venom Gland Removal

One of the deadliest venomous snakes in North America is slithering around with a brand new face, thanks to the proactive work of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s medical staff.

Dr. Randy Junge, a veterinarian and Vice President of Animal Health at the Columbus Zoo, successfully performed the surgery on the 19-year-old eastern diamondback rattlesnake. With a bit of caulk, Dr. Junge created a silicone implant to replace the snake’s highly toxic venom gland, which had grown disturbingly large. The implant was designed to maintain the snake’s facial structure in the absence of that gland.