The public zoo Renaissance located in downtown Bobo-Dioulasso on Avenue de la Révolution, once attractive, is no longer to be envied. It is in a state of degradation. We made the finding there on May 09, 2023.
Public gardens require financial resources for their regular maintenance. If the budgets allocated to these green spaces are insufficient, this can lead to a lack of staff for maintenance, a lack of adequate equipment and deterioration of the facilities. This is the case of the Garden Renaissance, once admired by friends of nature in search of tranquility and biodiversity. Indeed, part of this garden, which had regained its former glory in 2014 thanks to a promoter, is in decline and invaded by weeds, in turn by reptiles which constitute a danger for local residents. This part of this Garden, therefore, instead of being attractive, is currently dilapidated and has lost all attractiveness. Nowadays, only the presence of certain students as exams approach and of a few users at other times of the year try to give life to this place which previously was frequented by many local residents, and even tourists from other horizons. Similarly, the footbridge that linked the two banks of the Houet backwater is no longer relevant and one would have to be brave to take it at the risk of one’s life. This so-called zoological garden is no longer so because no animal shows signs of life there. “There were a lot of things, monkeys, wild guinea fowl, foxes,” confides to us a regular of the place. It is very deplorable to note a deviation from the objectives of the garden as the developments that are made there are in the process of making it a drinking establishment, hence the name ”Pata pata”. It is high time that everyone plays their part for the total rehabilitation and preservation of this public place which fulfills a recreational, health, educational, social, cultural and economic function.
Norrockom Edwige KAM
Rufin Allakagni – The Best Of Rufin Allakagni
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