Presentation of WAPCA's research activities

At the Annual Meeting of the French Society of Primatology the WAPCA primatologist gave a presentation on WAPCA's research activities in the forest sites in the Western Region. Please find the abstract here.

Primates successfully transferred to new Primate Centre

The Roloway Monkeys and the White-naped Mangabeys have been relocated successfully to the new Endangered Primate Centre (EPC) in Achimota Forest Reserve in the northern part of Accra. Here the monkeys enjoy the advantages of a brandnew facility and a very green environment.

Relocation of WAPCA's office

The WAPCA office moves to a new location: We are now in the old premises of the Wildlife Division at the Beach Road, close to Independence Square.

Monitoring starts at Bia National Park

In the context of the activities in the Western Region first steps were undertaken to carry out primate surveys inside Bia National Park. These surveys will clarify the current status of the remaining primate population in this forest and aim at improving the protection of the endangered species.

Jubilee Publication features WAPCA

In the context of 50 years Ghana-German Relations the German Embassy Ghana produced a Jubilee Publication. WAPCA contributed an article which can be found here.

Monitoring program initiated

A several-years program was initiated aiming at the clarification of the current situation of the endangered primate species in Ankasa National Park and other protected areas in the Western Region of Ghana. Surveys and monitoring will give detailed information on the remaining populations. At the same time trainings in data collection and field work will be carried out for forest rangers of the National Parks and local people. Using the data gained from the field work the protection of the primates will be intensified. The program starts with surveys in Ankasa.

Lucky goes London!

The young mangabey male named "Lucky" of the breeding group at the Endangered Primate Centre in Accra was transferred to London on 9th of March. At London Zoo it was introduced to a group of mangabeys for breeding purposes. In the context of the International Breeding Program for Endangered Species (EEP) for White-naped Mangabeys this transport has been prepared carefully and could then be carried out successfully from Accra to London.

First student involved in research project
A German student arrived to support research work inside the National Parks where WAPCA surveys and monitors primate population. These research activities will help to improve the protection of remaining monkey populations.

New Arrival at the Endangered Primates Centre

A White-Naped Mangabey that has been kept as a pet for several years was brought to Accra Zoo. We are happy to report that this young male recovered well and can now be introduced to one of our mangabey groups at the Endangered Primates Centre. It will soon become part of the international breeding programme.

Primate Expert organises Relocation
A primate housing expert from Zoological Society of London (ZSL) supports WAPCA to prepare the monkeys' relocation to the new site. Construction work on the new breeding centre will be finalized beginning of February when the design of the cages' interior and enrichment is finished by the expert.

Work on the new Endangered Primate Centre in Achimota Forest, Accra started

All monkeys in the WAPCA project will be relocated to this new site as the Accra Zoo including the WAPCA facilities will have to move to alternative locations soon.

Donation from Edinburgh Zoo

More than 300 kgs of clothes and uniforms arrived in Accra to support the animal keepers' work at the Accra Zoo and the tasks of forest rangers working with WAPCA in the protected areas. The equipment was sent from Edinburgh Zoo.

Biodiversity Research Project started

The French biologist Dr. Sylvain Gatti started collecting data on the threatened primate species in four forest sites. In the next two years he will survey the areas to evaluate the status and to improve the protection of endangered primates. His study is part of the "Community Forest Biodiversity Project" which is being funded by the French government.

Newborn Mangabey at the Centre for Endangered Primates

On June 29^th a mangabey was born at Accra zoo. Its parents are the male animal transferred from Paris zoo last year and the female white-naped mangabey confiscated in September 2005.

New Game Viewing Hide and Education Trail in Ankasa

Together with our sponsors Golden Star Resources, Bogoso Gold Ltd. and the German embassy WAPCA is proud to announce the inauguration of a game viewing hide at the Ankasa Resource Reserve and an education trail showing signboards with information on forest, primates and conservation issues.

Newborn Mangabey at Accra Zoo

On February 7^th one of the four female mangabeys gave birth to a healthy, male baby. The mother already gave birth to two other offspring and is part of the european studbook for white-naped mangabeys.

Primate Expert for Endangered Primate Center

An international expert on primates gave training for keepers for several months and advised on the international breeding program for endangered species (EEP).

New Roloway Guenon at Accra Zoo

Some days ago a vigilant keeper from Accra Zoo reported a Roloway guenon to be held by a private owner in Accra. This young female monkey could be caught by the zoo director and has now been transferred to the zoo's quarantine station. When it will be completely recovered it is planned for the near future to introduce her to the male guenon which has been living in the zoo since 2001. It remains uncertain if breeding will be possible with these two monkeys as they were heavily influenced by humans and kept separately.

New White-Naped Mangabeys at Accra Zoo

A recently confiscated white-naped mangabey could be successfully introduced to an established group of two females at the "Centre for Endangered Primates". After a long time of preparation the transfer of a male mangabey from Paris Zoo to Accra was carried out a few days ago. Having passed a necessary quarantine period this male is expected to be socialised with the group of females in the future.

Accra Zoo now houses eight white-naped mangabeys in total which underscores its important role in in-situ conservation and the function of the "Centre for Endangered Primates" in the EEP for this highly endangered species.

April 2005

Opening of the "Centre for Endangered Primates"

On April 29th the "Centre for Endangered Primates" was opened at Accra Zoo. It provides improved breeding facilities for roloway monkeys and white-naped mangabeys. Furthermore it raises awareness among visitors by informing about threats and the conservation status of both species.

February 2005

New Project Coordinator arrives in Ghana
From March onwards WAPCA will have a new project coordinator. Sonja Wolters is a German biologist who in the previous year has worked for a conservation project in Vietnam. Julia Trillmich, WAPCA's current coordinator, will move on to Uganda after three years with WAPCA.

November 2004

15th November: Construction of the Primate Centre has begun
The construction work for the "Centre for Endangered Primates" began. It is the first project of its kind in Ghana. Three naturally designed cages with an indoor and outdoor unit will be built to house and breed White-naped mangabeys and Roloway guenons. The Centre will furthermore serve as an education base for school children and other zoo visitors.

WAZA Grant for Accra Zoo
The "World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)" not only sponsored a training trip of three zoo staff to the UK last June but also financed further programs at Accra Zoo. Tools and items for renovation and behavioural enrichment were purchased, educational signboards were designed and items were bought to further improve the environmental education at the zoo.

Training in England for Accra Zoo Staff

The Education Officer, the Curator and the head of the Primate keepers of Accra Zoo flew to the UK to participate in a five weeks training course. The program is sponsored by WAZA and WAPCA and supported by London Zoo, Whipsnade Wild Animal Park and Bristol Zoo and aims at improving their skills within their department. 

Workshops for breeding Snails

Snails are considered a delicacy in Ghana and they are one of the most favoured bush meat species. The unsustainable human demand has led to such an over-exploitation of wild populations that they have decreased significantly and even got extinct in some regions.  WAPCA therefore held two 3-days workshops for 52 farmers coming from the area of Ankasa Resource Reserve. During the workshops they were trained on how to house, breed and manage snails domestically. Furthermore, two snail pens were constructed and donated to the local school to serve as an education centre.

Newborn Mangabey at Accra Zoo

In the early morning hours of 27th March 2004 a male white-naped mangabey baby was born at Accra Zoo. It is the second baby of an approved mother who gave birth in May 2002 for the first time. The additional and highly welcomed family member raises the total number of this highly endangered primate species at Accra Zoo to three males and three females.

Bushmeat Exhibition at Accra Zoo

In order to protect wild animal populations the hunting pressure on them needs to be decreased. WAPCA therefore sets up a bushmeat exhibition at Accra Zoo which informs the 70.000 annual visitors about the bushmeat crisis. Snails and grasscutter, two of the most popular bushmeat species, are shown and bred. Furthermore, brochures, signboards and books will hopefully encourage visitors to breed their own bushmeat and to create income by selling surplus animals. The Exhibition was officially launched on 3rd March in the presence of the German Ambassador, representatives of the European Union, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Forestry, representatives of Wildlife Division and the media.

November 2003

Workshop on Bamboo-Farming

WAPCA organizes a five-day workshop for 25 farmers from villages that border Ankasa National Park. Topic of the workshop is how to plant and utilize bamboo as a more viable and ecologically friendly alternative to hardwoods. Also, the farmer will have an additional income by selling the bamboo to a factory nearby.

October 2003

Support for National Park Rangers

In order to improve the effectiveness of the patrols in Ankasa National Park WAPCA supplies the ranger with tents, backpacks, compasses and supplementary food supplies. This way over night patrols can be carried out to reach distant locations in the park to prevent poaching. The hand-over of items was followed by an extensive training on the handling of the equipment and the filling on of patrol report sheets.

June 2003

Funding from the European Union

WAPCA receives funding from the European Union in order to set up a bushmeat exhibition at Accra Zoo. Information brochures and signboards inform the annual 70.000 visitors of the zoo about the dramatic decrease of local animal species and the "bushmeat crisis" in general. Live animals of species that are preferred bushmeat are shown in breeding cages to inform visitors about how they can be bread commercially. Further information material on this issue is available for interested visitors.

May 2003

Agreement on Bushmeat signed

A Memorandum of Agreement is signed with the Centre of Biodiversity Utilization and Development (CBUD), a local institute that promotes knowledge about the rearing of bushmeat. With their expertise snail and grasscutter rearing will be enhanced in the villages around forest areas in order to satisfy the local demand of bushmeat with domesticated animals instead of wild ones.

Feb-Apr 2003

Co-Operation with Lindsay Magnuson

The primatologist Lindsay Magnuson worked together with the WAPCA Coordinator, Julia Trillmich, in Ankasa and Korkosua in the western rainforest areas of Ghana. Besides carrying out further primate surveys, eight local communities were invited to discuss conservational matters and possible projects to profit from visiting tourists. The wildlife guards received training on monkey behaviour in order to have them gather reliable data during their patrols. The surrounding police stations were visited to educate officials on the issue and implementation of existing wildlife laws. Furthermore, the first edition of a “Conservation newsletter” was produced in the local language to be distributed regularly amongst communities. This way WAPCA will create awareness about successful community developments and wildlife news that can be copied in other areas.

3^rd meeting of WAPCA members at the conference of the European Zoo Association (EAZA) in Barcelona, Spain.

The entire staff of Accra Zoo is taken to a monkey forest as part of WAPCA’s educational program. Many of them have never seen a monkey in the wild!

Official opening of the area at Accra Zoo where the “Centre for Endangered Primates” will be constructed. The German Ambassador and the Ghanaian Minister of Lands and Forestry participate in the ceremony.

A program called “Adopt an animal” is being introduced to the zoo. The Swiss school of Accra takes up the offer and so does a local Wildlife Club.

WAPCA sponsors air-conditioning and furnishes a cold room at Accra Zoo to keep food items fresh and out of reach of rats.

The Education Officer is supported in his work to educate school classes with new materials and brochures. Together with this he is producing labelling for all animal species displayed at the zoo, to give visitors more information.

The staff of Accra Zoo is being trained in continuous training sessions covering nutritional knowledge, hygienic issues and general knowledge about animals.

The biologist Julia Trillmich undergoes special training at Heidelberg Zoo, Mulhouse Zoo and Landau Zoo to prepare for her tasks in Ghana. In April she moves to Ghana as a permanent contact person and project coordinator of WAPCA.

The job vacancy advertised for a WAPCA coordinator in Accra/Ghana.

2^nd WAPCA meeting at the conference of the European Zoo Association (EAZA) in Prague.

A veterinarian (Dr. Peter Hoppe) travels to Ghana for 6 weeks to establish contacts for WAPCA with the Ghanaian government, the zoo and other local environment organizations.

The Gemeinschaft Deutscher Zooförderer (GDZ) (Union of German Zoo Supporters) donates 10.000 DM to WAPCA.

1^st WAPCA meeting at Zoo Heidelberg.