KUMASI: The Kumasi Zoo has reported a significant increase in visitor numbers over the past three years, highlighting a positive trend in its performance, according to Dr. Meyir Ziekah Yiryele, the Chief Manager of the Kumasi Zoo. The zoo welcomed 141,000 visitors in 2023, compared to 111,846 in 2022 and 72,149 in 2021, with students making up a large portion of these visitors. According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Ziekah emphasized that the 66-year-old zoo, which spans approximately 11 hectares, dedicates only 30 to 40 percent of its land to caged animals. The remaining area is covered with vegetation and houses free-roaming wild animals that are endangered and cannot be returned to the wild. The zoo, located in the heart of Kumasi, is referred to as the 'Garden within the Garden City' and features over 50 species of caged wild animals, including lions, ostriches, crocodiles, and more. Dr. Ziekah explained that the zoo's collection includes both local and exotic breeds used for educational purposes, allowing visitors to learn about different animal species worldwide. For instance, the zoo hosts the fallow deer from abroad and the local bushbuck, enabling educational comparisons between the two. Additionally, the zoo plays a crucial role in preserving endangered species, such as the slender-snouted crocodiles whose habitats are threatened by human activity. Collaborating with a European zoo, Kumasi Zoo aims to breed certain monkey species nearing extinction. Other animals are also being bred with plans for future release into the wild. Besides serving as an educational and preservation center, the zoo provides a venue for scientific research, attracting students and researchers. Despite its successes, the zoo faces challenges, including unauthorized trading along its outer walls, which creates refuse that affects the zoo premises. Dr. Ziekah expressed concerns over this issue, which hampers beautification efforts. He also noted visitor requests for additional amenities like a snack bar and playground, urging aut horities to enhance the zoo's facilities and address the nuisance caused by nearby traders.