Zoological Garden sees significant rise in revenue

Kumasi, July 29, GNA - The Kumasi Zoological Garden saw an appreciable rise in revenue in year 2010 despite the decline in the number of visitors, Mr Festus Agya-Yao, the Manager, has said. It realized GH¢110,746.000 as against GH¢79, 126.000 in 2009. He was briefing members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Lands and Natural Resources when they toured the Zoo to have first hand information about the prospects and challenges.

Mr Agya-Yao told the Committee that visitors received by the Zoo went down from 78,467 in 2009 to 59,221 in 2010 and said the revenue increase was due to upward adjustment of the fees. He complained about the health hazard and offensive smell from a drainage carrying liquid waste from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), which runs through the Zoo.

This, he said, was a major source of discomfort to tourists and that discussions held with the city authorities over this had not produced any solution.

Other problems they face include stealing of some of the animals by unscrupulous members of the public especially duikers, bush bucks, wart hogs and monkeys, which are being bred for eventual re-introduction into the wild.

An Executive Director, Forest Services Division (FSD) of the Forestry Commission (FC), Nana Adu Nsiah, said there was also the difficulty of getting money to feed the animals. Apart from the funds being inadequate, releases had been irregular and this situation at times forces them to use money meant for administration purposes to keep the animals. Nana Nsiah said they had acquired about 13 hectares of land for re-location of the Zoo. It would be modernized and stocked with elephants, leopard, buffalo and others.

He suggested to the Committee to push for the establishment of a Zoo in every region to help preserve local animal species.

Mr Albert Abongo, the Chairman of the Committee, congratulated the management for a good job and pledged to do everything they could to help get them financial support. The Committee, which was on a two-day visit to the Ashanti Region, also inspected a teak plantation at the Opro and Asubima Forest Reserves and a demonstration farm at Abofour, all in the Offinso Forest District.