A few years ago, together with our partner, the Association for the Protection of Fauna and Flora, we conducted a distressing investigation at a zoo in Burkina Faso. The 112-hectare site was home to numerous endangered species, many of them on the verge of death — hungry, weak, and exploited for profit. Our inspection uncovered a scene of severe neglect and suffering. Some animals had already given up hope, and for many, help came too late.
We did not give up. Today, the survivors are living peacefully at the Ziniaré Animal Sanctuary, receiving the care they deserve.
The Wild at Life Animal Sanctuary of Ziniaré, located 30 km east of Ouagadougou, was originally opened in the 1990s and was once a source of national pride. Since 2015, and particularly after the political unrest of 2021, the park was left abandoned. The owner fled the country, and the animals were left to die.
