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Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary (sacred Black Volta)
Black Volta River, SW of Wa, Wa West district, Upper West Region
Ghana
Active (community-managed)
Regional cluster
- Location
- Black Volta River, SW of Wa, Wa West district, Upper West Region
- Coordinates
- ~9.78°N 2.70°W
- Elevation
- Black Volta floodplain
- Size
- ~40 km of Black Volta eastern bank
- Age / Founded
- Sacred tradition; sanctuary established 1999
- Status
- Active (community-managed)
- Deity & Religion
- Hippos & river revered/taboo-protected; local traditional religion
- Community & Guardians
- Wechiau Traditional Council & 17+ villages (Lobi & Birifor)
- Vernacular name
- Community sanctuary (sacred river/hippo)
- Record type
- Regional cluster
Cultural practices & uses
Protection of sacred hippos; river safari ecotourism funding schools/clinics
Plant species
Riparian gallery forest & savanna woodland
Biome & fauna
Black Volta riverine; one of only two hippo populations in Ghana
Threats & protection
Community Resource Management Area; one of West Africa's conservation successes
Source
Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary (Wikipedia); Visit Ghana