In a Facebook post on Friday afternoon, May 17, 2024, the Center for Wildlife Education at Georgia Southern announced that its Burmese python Xena has died of complications due to old age.
She had been at the Center since 2006 and grew from approximately 9 feet in length at that time to her current length of almost 16 feet. While her exact age is unknown, staff believe she was more than 25 years old at the time of her death.
Here is the message they posted:
Friends of the Wildlife Center,
It is with heavy hearts that we note the passing of Xena, our Burmese Python. Xena, who died of complications with age, has been an amazing educational ambassador for her species, and has touched the lives of many. She has been an integral part of the Wildlife Center as well as inspiration for building our Invasive Species exhibit.
Xena arrived at the Wildlife Center in 2006, when she was already 9ft in length. 18 years later, she grew to be our largest snake at the Center, at almost 16 feet. On average, Burmese Pythons can live up to 15-20 years in captivity. Xena was estimated to be over 25 years old.
Xena will be greatly missed not only by the Center’s staff, but our community as well.
Thank you, Xena, for your service to our community!
About the Center for Wildlife Education
Since its opening in 1997, the Center for Wildlife Education has grown into one of the leading environmental education facilities in Georgia. The mission of the Center is to provide wildlife encounters for school children and citizens of this region, successfully measured by over 17,500 children and adults educated on-site annually.
Additionally, the Center takes its programs “on the road,” presenting over 100 off-site programs annually. With the use of live animal ambassadors, program participants are educated on numerous species of wildlife native to Georgia, their habitats, and the impact humans have on the environment.
The Center for Wildlife Education (click for directions) is currently open weekdays from 9am-4:45pm and closed on Saturdays and Sundays. It will reopen on Saturdays in the fall. For more information, visit the Center's website.