SHARP DECLINE IN PATRONAGE OF KUMASI ZOO
Management
of the Kumasi Zoo is appealing to particularly the media to help conscientize
the public about the existence of the facility and its cultural, educational,
research and social importance to the society.
The Zoo, built about 60 years
ago as a complement of the Kumasi Centre for Culture popularly known as the
Kumasi Cultural Centre for the conservation of some crucial aspects of the
people’s cultural and traditional heritage as well as for historical purposes, has
had its average annual visitor turn around substantially 'reduced from 100
thousand to the present 17 thousand.'
The situation is due to an erroneous
impression that the facility has been closed down because of the ongoing
construction work on the Kejetia Terminal complex.
In an exclusive interview with Ashanti Today in Kumasi, Manager of the Kumasi Zoo, Dr. Meyir
Ziekah, noted also that the Zoo now requires rehabilitation especially the
cages for the about 129 different animal species in stock 60 years after its
establishment.
Dr. Ziekah disclosed also that the Zoo has been saving a lot of
stray reptiles, mostly crocodiles from the Kumasi metropolis in recent times, particularly during the rainy seasons as a result of floods. This is because of
people’s encroachment on nature reserves and water ways.
The Zoo has also been
rescuing orphaned animals due to poaching. Among such animals was a an elephant
calf that was rescued by Game Managers in the Upper West region and brought to
the Kumasi Zoo six years ago.
Dr. Ziekah appealed to members of the society to
support the management with feed and logistics for the feeding and cages for
the safe maintenance of the animals. He however cautioned visitors to the
facility to refrain from directly feeding or touching the animals since such tendencies
are against the rules.
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