Calgary Zoo hosts African royalty

The Calgary Zoo welcomes two African dignitaries this weekend.

Paramount Chief Wechiau Naa and Meteu Naa, his successor, from Ghana are in Calgary as part of this year's Tusk and Tails fundraiser.

The zoo and Ghana's Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary have partnered for the last 13 years in preserving the African nation's Hippo population. The sanctuary protects a 40 kilometre stretch of the Black Volta river.

On Saturday, visitors to the zoo will be able to meet the Ghanaian chief in a public event in the Savannah Building. The meet and greet will go from 11:00 am to 1:00pm.

The Tusk and Tails fundraiser raised $200,000 this year for upgrades to the zoo's hippo pool. A raffle brought in $13,700 for the Wechiau Sanctuary.