A white-lipped tree viper at Pakawi Park Zoo in Belgium has given birth to 12 offspring without mating, in a rare instance of parthenogenesis. The female snake, which had been living in isolation for over two years, was named "Virgin Maria" by the zoo staff following the unexpected birth. The phenomenon, parthenogenesis, is a form of asexual reproduction where offspring develop from unfertilized eggs.

Tim Bouts, the zoo’s veterinarian, initially found the case puzzling but confirmed it as parthenogenesis after consulting scientific literature. He described the occurrence as remarkable, noting the complexities and wonders of natural reproductive processes. Although parthenogenesis is more commonly documented in insects such as bees, ants, and wasps, it remains an unusual event in snakes.

The white-lipped tree viper, native to Southeast Asia, is known to be a livebearer, meaning it gives birth to live young rather than laying eggs. While parthenogenesis in reptiles is rare, it has been recorded previously in captivity, including the birth of Komodo dragons by virgin birth at London and Chester zoos in 2006.

Following the birth, the newborn snakes appeared healthy and were being hand-fed with small pieces of chicken using tweezers, according to zoo personnel. The offspring were separated from their mother to avoid predation, a common practice in captivity due to maternal snakes sometimes mistaking their young for prey. In the wild, young white-lipped tree vipers are independent from birth and disperse quickly, minimizing such risks.

Pakawi Park continues to monitor the development of “Maria” and her offspring, marking the event as a significant example of parthenogenetic reproduction in reptiles under human care.