Though widely bred in captivity in the U.S. and Europe, tens of thousands are exported from West Africa each year, with little understanding of what that means for their conservation or well-being.

Ball pythons, native to sub-Saharan Africa, are popular nonvenomous snakes known for their docile nature and distinct behavior of coiling into a ball when threatened. They play a vital role in ...

When a ball python at the St. Louis Zoo laid several eggs this summer, her caretakers were baffled. The snake hasn't been in contact with a male python in decades, and at 62 years old, she may be the ...