ACCRA ZOO

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The Okaikwei North Municipality is also blessed with the location of Accra Zoo.

ACCRA ZOO, A MORE VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR THE MUNICIPALITY

The Okaikoi North Municipality is also blessed with the location of Accra Zoo. Located within the Achimota forest, the Accra Zoo is under the Wildlife Division of Forestry Commission where living wild animals are kept for conservation, education, research and exhibition.

Some of the animals that could be found at the Zoo include Jackal, Camel, Ostrich, Emu, Roan antelope, Bay Duiker. Bushbuck, giant tortoise, rabbit, Royal Python, porcupine, Chameleon.

Others include Gees, Macaw, Cockatoo, Peacock, Cranes, Senegal Parrots, Grey Parrots, Pigeon, Plantain Eater, Quail Birds among others. All animals in the initial Accra Zoological Gardens were transported to the Kumasi Zoo to make way for the construction of the new Presidential Complex at the Flagstaff House.

According to Professor Dominic Fobih, a former Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines in a Daily Graphic report on April 27, 2007, after the Zoo was built with the help of the London Zoological Society, the animals were transported back to Accra upon completion of the new zoo in Accra.

"The transfer of the animals has, however, enriched the Kumasi Zoo in terms of animal stock, putting it in a position where it can appropriately offer recreational grounds for relaxation. This is because it now boasts of about 60 different animal species on display including lions, elephants, primates, reptiles and birds. Hitherto, it had only about 37 different species of animals on display and had become a pale shadow losing its status as a major tourist attraction in the Garden City," he said.

The Minister said it was unfortunate that many Ghanaians do not seem to appreciate zoos as facilities among the very important assets of the country. “Most people therefore do not consider visiting the zoo when planning their holidays or leisure times. Zoos are in most cases the only opportunity for urban dwellers to have first-hand experiences with wildlife,"he observed.

In the report, Prof. Fobih noted further that despite the numerous benefits of zoos there was a wide gap between revenues accruing in the form of gate proceeds and the cost of maintaining the zoos, thus making it difficult to run and maintain them. He said that despite such difficulties there was still the need to continue keeping the zoos for sustainable use of wildlife resources, conserving endangered animal species and researching for improvement of various species of fauna across the globe.

The Accra Zoo was set up by the first President of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, as a private menagerie in the early 1960s. The Accra Zoo was opened to the public after his overthrow in 1966.

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