Beloved Canton Reptile Dies, He Educated And Entertained

CANTON, CT — At the Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton, "Pele" is not a legendary soccer player from Brazil.

But his species hails from Brazil, and folks visiting 70 Gracey Road in Canton, where the center is located, loved him just as much.

Sadly, the center announced Tuesday that Pele, a Brazilian Rainbow Boa Constrictor, had died. He was about 27 years old and had lived at the center since 2003.

"Pele came to the Nature Center in 2003, a donation from a couple that was no longer able to care for him," wrote the nature center on Tuesday.

"They had gone on their honeymoon to Florida several years before that and, for reasons one can only guess, purchased Pele from a reptile breeding facility."

Center officials estimated that Pele was about 5 years old when he arrived in 2003.

According to the center, the average life span for a rainbow boa in the wild is 10 years, but they can live for 20-25 years in captivity, with the record an exceptional 42 years.

For scores of area pupils and families, Pele was a key figure in their visits to the center, which blends education with fun for all.

"Over his life, Pele entertained many thousands of Nature Center visitors, and he traveled to many schools and libraries throughout Connecticut," wrote the nature center.

"He was an outstanding ambassador and participated in numerous programs, including those focusing on animal adaptations, life in the rain forest, and 'Snakes Alive.'"

But even snakes age, and this can impact them physically.

According to the nature center, Pele developed arthritis in his back, and he retired from outreach programs.

But, they said, he still came out of his enclosure for programs in the Nature Center auditorium.

Said the nature center, "He will be greatly missed."

For more information on the Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton, click on this link.