Killing Two Birds with One Stone at Kano Zoo

Hadiza Ibrahim, 13, Amina Ibrahim, 10, and Ibrahim Ibrahim, 8, all members of  the same family, could not control their joy  when they saw a mother-giraffe breast feeding her little calf at Audu Bako Zoological and Botanical Garden, also known as Gidan Zoo in Kano State. They told Daily Trust on Sunday that it was […]

Hadiza Ibrahim, 13, Amina Ibrahim, 10, and Ibrahim Ibrahim, 8, all members of  the same family, could not control their joy  when they saw a mother-giraffe breast feeding her little calf at Audu Bako Zoological and Botanical Garden, also known as Gidan Zoo in Kano State.
They told Daily Trust on Sunday that it was their first time of seeing a giraffe . “We only watch giraffes on the television set, but here we are today seeing them physically,” Hadiza joyfully said.
She explained further   “we purposely came here to see the baby giraffe because we   heard over the radio about the historic birth and since then we were determined to come and see for ourselves.”
Daily Trust on Sunday   observed that visitors at the zoo paid more attention to the section where the giraffe was kept than other sections, largely  because they wished to have a glance of the calf.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015 will for a very long time remain memorable to the staff and management of Audu Bako Zoological and Botanical Garden, Kano. On  that fateful day, a mother-giraffe in the zoo successfully gave birth to a male calf, a development that was described by many as historic.
Gidan Zoo, as it is widely called, is the first zoo in the country that has so far recorded such delivery, according to the Director, Planning Research and Strategy of the Kano State Zoological and Wildlife Management Agency, Alhaji Garba Abdu Unguwar-Gini.
Both the mother-giraffe and the calf are said to be in good health  when this reporter visited the zoo. The baby giraffe was named Buhari in commemoration of the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari who won the presidential election of March 28, three days to the historical delivery.
Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that when the founder of the garden, a former military governor of Kano state, the late Alhaji Audu Bako, pronounced his intention to establish a recreational garden in the state, many people, including his friends,  condemned the idea.
Not only that, some of them went the extra mile by making the idea to be an item of mockery, just to discourage the founder from achieving his desired objectives. However, during the opening ceremony of the garden, the late Bako replied his critics.
He  had said: “I am surprised to hear from a lot of people, including those who call themselves elites, criticizing my idea of establishing a zoo or game reserve, and not only that but also making it an item of mockery. I am openly condemning such people as people without foresight and wisdom.” 
The foundation of Audu Bako Zoo was laid on the July 14, 1971, and opened to the public in 1972. It covers an area of about 46 hectares. It started with collection of 60 species, comprising 200 specimens that include animals, birds and reptiles.
The pioneer animals were mostly sourced from East Africa, from local indigenous hunters and others were confiscated from individuals. Hamdala Hotel, Kaduna, donated some. Some like the pioneer lions, Danjuma and Bala, as they were nicknamed, were donated by individuals. Danjuma was donated by the founder, while Bala was handed over to the Zoo by the founder’s friend.
However, animals like Zebra, Elephant, Rhino and Leopard were sourced from Kenya, Daily Trust on Sunday  gathered. Currently, the zoo is accommodating about 75 different species comprising about 350 animals which  include among others Elephant, Zebra, Lion, Hyena, Crocodile, Monkeys, Eland, Giraffe and Buffalo as well as different types of birds reptiles.
It was gathered that the zoo was purely established for recreational and conservation purposes before it was later turned to be an education and research centre, for many students of secondary schools and tertiary institutions from within and outside the state. In addition to that, the garden is also generating revenue for the state government, Daily Trust on Sunday  learnt. 
The late Audu Bako, in his speech during the official opening of the zoo, said “my main objectives in establishing such a recreational facility are firstly, to bring to the people of Kano different specimens of wildlife with particular emphasis on animals that are not now available in this country, but which have been exterminated by hunters as from 99A.D. We are trying to regenerate these animals that were long lost for our present and future generations to see.”
He added: “Secondly, a general collection of animals, birds, reptiles, fish and insects would give an overall picture of their classification into different ecological areas and thirdly, to collect Nigerian animals that breed successfully in the zoo, which can later be re-introduced in the game reserve.”
At present, Gidan Zoo has about 70 personnel that  keep it going on a daily basis. It is  playing a significant role in Kano State and the neighbouring states, particularly in the area of research as the garden is disseminating qualitative education to many students regarding wildlife animals.
According to Unguwar-Gini, many students do visit  the zoo for research purposes and for other educational benefits on a daily basis. In view of that, he noted, that the zoo has been registered by the Pan African Association of Zoos and Aquaria (PAAZAB) and International Zoo Educators (IZE) in 2007 and 2010 respectively.
The peak season of the zoo, Daily Trust on Sunday  gathered is mainly during the festivities of Eid-el fitr, Eid-el Kabir, Christmas, Easter and New Year as well as during holidays.
However, this precious legacy left behind by the former governor is facing serious challenges which are viewed by many as detrimental to its progress. Some of these challenges include the lack of adequate funds: the management of the zoo is facing difficulties in terms of  sourcing animals from other countries  owing largely to  the lack of  funds.
Next to insufficient funds, Daily Trust on Sunday   observed, are the  outdated wildlife laws which also need to be reviewed in order to  harmonise with globally accepted laws. According to Unguwar-Gini, most of the existing wildlife laws could not be applied because they could not serve the purpose they were formulated for, hence they need to be reviewed.
Another problem that is also threatening the progress of the place is the insecure nature of garden. It was observed that activities of some hoodlums around the area are becoming threats to both the animals and the staff as well.
The director explained, “sometimes, particularly, during the peak season of visiting, hoodlums in the area do jump into the garden to perpetrate their evil activities. They are gradually turning the place into  a joint  for smoking marijuana and intoxicants.
“If care is not been taken, visitors will gradually be discouraged from coming to the zoo. Government should, therefore, do something urgent to stop the trend, in order to safeguard the animals and the historical garden for the future generations to also benefit from it.”
Unguwar-Gini pointed out that part of the future plans the management is hoping to achieve, is to bring more varieties of animals from other countries, so that the upcoming generations could see animals that they had never seen physically whenever they pay a visit to the zoo.
There is also a plan of developing the extension of the garden constructed by the former governor of the state, Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, into a prosperous, habitable and enjoyable place for visitors. He assured that a modern conference hall, internet café and an e-resource centre are be put in place in the zoo very soon.
He said Kano State, without Gidan Zoo, will look dull, as, according to him, the garden is among the few places that always make the state vibrant, particularly during festivities, noting that “the people of Kano, especially the younger generation, may not know some of the animals they have read about in schools if the zoo does not exist, or if government fails to keep it alive.”
He, therefore, called on the people to understand that the importance of  a recreational place like the zoo is not limited to only leisure, but also for educational, research and conservation purposes.
“The species are not only kept for the public to come and see,  but also for conservation purpose so that the animals do not go extinct. And by doing so the place can equally serve  as an educational and research centre for many students who focus on animals in their fields of studies,” he said.
Hajiya Maryam Ibrahim, a visitor told Daily Trust on Sunday  that coming to the zoo has become a routine for her every year. She said she used  to visit the place together with her children during Sallah festivities.
“This is one of the few places you can take children to relax in Kano. I never mind the insecurity challenges in the country, because wherever I am I could be killed if my time comes, so activities of Boko Haram have never stopped me from coming to Gidan Zoo twice every year,” she said.
Another visitor, Kamilu Isa Bebeji, who was accompanied by his wife, Maimuna, and his baby Ibrahim, told Daily Trust on Sunday that visiting the zoo was a great pleasure to him and members of his family.
“This is my first time of coming to this place, but, sincerely speaking, I have enjoyed it. From this moment onward I will be coming to the zoo every year. Although I have physically seen some of the animals like the hyena before, but I have never seen others like the giraffe and elephant until when I came to the zoo,” he said.
His wife, Maimunatu Kamilu, also said she had never seen   the elephant, giraffe and lion physically until her first visit to the garden. She thanked the government of Kano state for bringing the animals to the garden.