About The Hippo Sanctuary Established by the people of the Wechiau Traditional Area in 1999, the Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary consists of a 40-kilometre stretch of riverine forest and savannah woodland running the length of the Black Volta River, which forms the Upper West Region’s boundary with Burkina Faso. Of particular interest is the hippopotamus population resident along this stretch of river.  One of only two remaining hippo populations within Ghana, the group represents an important conservation priority.

A number of partners have joined the people of the Hippo Sanctuary in their vision. The Nature Conservation Research Centre (NCRC) is a Ghanaian non-governmental organization focused on nature and culture conservation initiatives. NCRC’s philosophy endorses conservation schemes that emerge from local cultural belief systems and offer tangible economic returns for the residents. Based in Accra, NCRC is able to liaise with like-minded groups and organizations on important conservation concerns in Ghana.  One such organization is the Calgary Zoo, Canada.

The mission of the Calgary Zoo is to manage an integrated zoological park and conservation centre for the combined purposes of recreation, education, conservation and scientific study. Projects in the Conservation Outreach Department are based on their relevance to species housed at the Calgary Zoo, and their ability to achieve a balance of support between field conservation, captive management, and the likelihood of long-term situational improvements for individual species or conservation issues.

The original Sanctuary feasibility study, completed in 1998, was completed using financial support provided by the Calgary Zoo's Conservation Fund. The Calgary Zoo has become a stronger partner to the Hippo Sanctuary following first a visit to Calgary in January 2003 by the Traditional Leaders of the Wechiau Area: Wechiau-Naa (a Paramount Chief), Tokali-Naa (a Divisional chief), and Gorungu-Naa (also a Divisional chief), and then a return visit to Wechiau in September 2003 by the President and CEO of the Calgary Zoo, Mr. Alex Graham, and Brian Keating, the Zoo’s Head of Conservation Outreach.

Learn about other Calgary Zoo Conservation Outreach Projects.

Click here to learn how you can help the sanctuary locally.