By Muyid Deen Suleman
Kumasi, May 22, GNA – What began as a tense reptile rescue operation at an ECG substation at Ahodwo in Kumasi has now transformed into a heartwarming conservation story at the Kumasi Zoological Gardens, where newly hatched African Rock pythons are drawing excitement among zookeepers.
A follow-up visit by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to the zoo on Thursday, May 21, 2026, revealed a remarkable development – six out of the 42 python eggs rescued together with two adult African Rock pythons had successfully hatched.
Inside the zoo’s reptile hatchery, the tiny hatchlings slithered actively around their enclosure, weaving over one another and adjusting naturally to their new environment under the watchful eyes of handlers.
For the reptile keepers, it was a moment of relief and fulfilment after weeks of carefully monitoring the rescued eggs in a temporary incubator.
The eggs and the two adult pythons were relocated to the zoo after they were discovered at the ECG substation at Ahodwo, where their presence had raised safety concerns.
The GNA gathered that while six eggs had hatched successfully, 10 were spoiled, with the remaining eggs expected to hatch within the next week.
Dr. Meyir Ziekah Yiryele, Resident Veterinary Officer at the zoo, speaking to the GNA, explained that the hatchlings emerged three days before the visit.
According to him, the eggs were kept in a makeshift incubator under controlled humidity and temperature conditions to support the hatching process.
He noted that African Rock python eggs normally take between two and three months to hatch, adding that the rescued eggs might already have benefited from natural incubation conditions before they were relocated.
“All six hatchlings are healthy and responding well under observation,” he stated.
Dr. Yiryele explained that determining the sex and exact measurements of the hatchlings would take some time because they were still under close monitoring.
He further indicated that the hatchlings were currently surviving on nutrients from their egg yolk and would naturally begin feeding later in the wild.
Beyond the excitement surrounding the hatchlings, the development also highlights growing concerns about increasing human-wildlife encounters within urban communities in Kumasi.
Dr. Yiryele said the city had recorded rising cases of human-wildlife conflicts and called on residents to avoid activities that create favourable conditions for reptiles and rodents around homes and facilities.
He advised the public against leaving uncovered holes, cracks and poorly maintained surroundings that could serve as shelter for snakes.
The veterinary officer also appealed to key institutions, particularly National Disaster Management Organisation and the Ghana National Fire Service, to collaborate with the zoo in building the capacity of personnel in reptile rescue operations.
He further cautioned against pollution of water bodies, noting that many reptiles depend on such ecosystems for survival.
Meanwhile, the two adult pythons at the centre of the rescue operation appear to have fully adapted to life at the zoo.
A visit to their enclosure showed the reptiles resting calmly alongside other pythons, far removed from the tension and uncertainty that surrounded their rescue weeks ago.
For zoo officials, successful hatching serves as a reminder that conservation efforts, even in difficult circumstances, can still produce moments of hope and renewal.
GNA
Edited by Yussif Ibrahim/Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Muyid Deen Suleman