The screening was part of the yearly routine health checks conducted on animals in the zoo to ensure that they are in good health.

Dr. Meyir Ziekah Yiryele, the Manager of the Kumasi Zoo, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that, this year's routine health check centered on the 11 White Naped Mangabeys, which are an endangered-primate.

He noted that these primates, which are endangered, are targeted to be released into the wild to contribute to ecosystem regeneration.
It is therefore, importance to run a complete health check for the monkeys to ensure that they were released into the wild healthily with no diseases to infect other populations in the wild.

The screening focused on their physical health, blood samples tests, swabs, tuberculosis, and virus tests, and internal and external parasite checks, among others.

Dr. Ziekah said the samples taken would be sent to the veterinary laboratories in Accra and Kumasi for further investigations.
"Those that cannot be checked in Ghana will be taken to Europe to be checked after we have acquired the necessary permits," he said.

Dr. Ziekah noted that students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and
Technology's College of Medical Sciences School of Veterinary Medicine were invited to observe the exercise.

They are here to learn some of the best practices to help them in future to render healthcare services to wildlife exhibits in captivity and free roaming," he explained.

Mrs. Andrea Dempsey, the Programme Manager of the WAPCA advocated for the forest reserves to be protected as some species of animals were almost extinct in the world.

She noted that animals played important roles in nature, hence, they must be protected to ensure that they were not endangered in the wild.

Activities such as galamsey, deforestation and other unsafe practices, according to Mrs. Dempsey, caused the extinction of some animals.
She said everyone must be conscious about protecting animals, since they benefit everyone and not only some individuals.