Mangabey Awareness Day to be held in Accra

Accra, July 28, GNA - The Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission of Ghana and the West African Primate Conservation Action (WAPCA) as part of their scope, would be hosting a Mangabey Awareness Day at the Accra Zoo on Monday, August 1, 2016.

The Day is a worldwide event that aims to raise global awareness regarding the plight of the poorly understood primate, the mangabey.

In a release issued to the Ghana News Agency and signed by Andrea Dempsey, WAPCA Country Coordinator on Thursday in Accra, said mangabeys, consisting of ten species, are under constant threat from habitat destruction and the bush and pet trade.

It said a few of the existing species can be found in viable breeding programmes throughout the world's zoos, making it a top priority to raise the understanding of mangabey status and importance.

It said in Ghana, the event would take place at the Endangered Primates Breeding Centre at the Accra Zoo on Monday August 1, 2016, from 10:00 -16:00 hours.

The release noted that, the day would include educational talks, mangabey-themed games for children and an exclusive raffle to help name one of the cheeky monkeys at Accra Zoo.

It said all proceeds from the event would be towards supporting the conservation efforts of WAPCA and the Wildlife Division in the mangabey's natural habitat range and the Accra Zoo Endangered Primates Breeding Centre, to ensure that the primate can survive in the wild.

GNA