Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary

Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary

The Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the twin communities of Boabeng and Fiema, 22 kilometers from the Nkoranza North District in the Bono East Region of Ghana. The 4.4 km2 forest, believed to have been established in the 1970s, is home to many trees, birds, reptiles, deer and monkeys. Two of the monkeys are the Geoffrey's Pied Colobus and the Campbell's Mona Monkey. About 700 monkeys live in the sanctuary. The village is a community in which the monkeys and the humans live together, and the people of the village always place food for the animals in front of their houses. For many generations, the villagers of Boabeng and Fiema have treated the local monkeys as sacred and have forbidden any harm to them. The two neighboring communities created this forest sanctuary to protect them. When a monkey passes away, it is placed in a coffin and a special funeral ritual is performed.