Kakum National Park

Kakum National Park
The Kakum Canopy Walk
Map showing the location of Kakum National Park
Map showing the location of Kakum National Park
LocationCentral Region of Ghana
Coordinates5°21′13″N 1°23′0″W / 5.35361°N 1.38333°W / 5.35361; -1.38333
Area375 km2 (145 sq mi)
Established1992

Kakum National Park, located in the coastal environs of the Central Region[1][2][3] of Ghana,[4] covers an area of 375 square kilometres (145 sq mi). Established in 1931 as a reserve, it was gazetted as a national park only in 1992 after an initial survey of avifauna was conducted. The area is covered with tropical forest.[5][6][7] The uniqueness of this park lies in the fact that it was established at the initiative of the local people and not by the State Department of wildlife who are responsible for wildlife preservation in Ghana. It is one of only 3 locations in Africa with a canopy walkway,[8] which is 350 metres (1,150 ft) long and connects seven tree tops which provides access to the forest.[6][9]

The most notable endangered species of fauna in the park are Diana monkey,[10] giant bongo antelope,[11] yellow-backed duiker[12] and African elephant.[13] It is also an Important Bird Area[14] recognized by the Bird Life International[15] with the bird area fully overlapping the park area. The bird inventory confirmed 266 species in the park, including eight species of global conservation concern. One of these species of concern is the white-breasted guineafowl.[16] Nine species of hornbill[17] and the grey parrot[18] have been recorded. And it also has more than 600 butterflies as well, and a new species was discovered in 1993. As of 2012, the densest population of forest elephants in Ghana is located in Kakum.[19]

The Museums and Monuments Board of the Republic of Ghana has proposed that UNESCO[20] declare the park a natural World Heritage Site under criteria vii and x. The submission made in 2000 is listed under the tentative List of World Heritage Sites.[21]

  1. ^ "Central Region". touringghana.com. 24 February 2016. Archived from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Central Region". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  3. ^ "Kakum National Park (Official GANP Park Page)". national-parks.org. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  4. ^ "GTA's Experience Ghana, Share Ghana Campaign To Promote Domestic Tourism Visits Central & Western Regions - Ghana.Travel". 11 May 2023. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Parks and reserves of Ghana: Management Effectiveness Assessment of Protected Areas" (PDF). IUCN. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Kakum National Park (Assin Attandanso Reserve) (#)". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  7. ^ "Kakum National Park". Microsfere. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  8. ^ "Kakum Canopy Walk". Atlas Obscura. Archived from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Kakum National Park - Assin Attandaso Resource Reserve". Bird Life. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  10. ^ "Diana monkey | primate". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  11. ^ "Bongo | antelope". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  12. ^ "Yellow-backed duiker (Cephalophus silvicultor) - Quick facts". www.ultimateungulate.com. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  13. ^ "African Elephant | Species | WWF". World Wildlife Fund. Archived from the original on 23 March 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  14. ^ BirdLife International. "Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs)". BirdLife. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  15. ^ "BirdLife International | conservation group". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  16. ^ "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Archived from the original on 4 March 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  17. ^ BirdLife International. "The Helmeted Hornbill crisis and BirdLife's conservations efforts". BirdLife. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  18. ^ BirdLife International. "Ghana's Grey Parrot population may soon cease to exist". BirdLife. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  19. ^ Karlya, Maria (7 March 2012). Ghana (Other Places Travel Guide). Other Places Publishing. pp. 120–. ISBN 978-1-935850-10-6. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  20. ^ "UNESCO | Definition, History, Members, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  21. ^ "Kakum National Park (Assin Attandanso Reserve) (#)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2023.