The Agency was established in 1999 by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Engr. Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso. It comprises the Kano Zoological and Botanical Garden, the Falgore Game Reserve, and the Open Area.
The Kano Zoological and Botanical Garden is located along Zoo Road, Gandun Albasa Quarters, Kano State, covering an estimated 45 hectares of land. It is situated at latitude 11°58’N and longitude 8°31’E, with an elevation of 496 meters above sea level.
Established in 1971 and officially opened to the public in 1972 by the then Military Governor of Kano State, Late Alhaji Audu Bako, the zoo initially operated as a unit under the Forestry and Wildlife Department of the Ministry of Agriculture. At its inception, the zoo housed 60 species, comprising approximately 200 individual animals. Today, it conserves more than 48 species with over 300 individual animals, serving as an ex-situ conservation facility dedicated to wildlife conservation and management, education, research and recreation..
The Falgore Game Reserve, an in-situ conservation facility, is situated in the southern part of Kano State. It was originally established in 1949 by the Colonial Government as the Kogin Kano Forest Reserve (River Kano Forest Reserve) and was later upgraded to Falgore Game Reserve in 1969.
The reserve covers an area of approximately 920 km². Its elevation ranges from 650 meters above sea level in the northern part to 1,200 meters at the southern part. It shares borders with Tudun Wada LGA to the north, Doguwa to the south, and Sumaila LGA to the northeast. To the southwest, it borders Kaduna State and connects with the Lame-Burra Forest Reserve in Bauchi State to the southeast.
The reserve experiences an annual rainfall of 800mm – 1,000mm, with an average temperature of 24°C. However, temperatures fluctuate between 21°C from December to January and 31°C from April to May. The vegetation is characteristic of the Sudan Savanna, featuring shrubs, sparse trees, grasses, and gallery forests—which form natural corridors along River Kano.
A key feature of the reserve is the Kano River, which stretches approximately 50 km, flowing from the southern to the northern part of the reserve and recharging the Tiga Dam. The reserve is also intersected by numerous tributaries, including Gulbai, Chidawaki, and Matsiyacin Rafi in the north, and Maitunku Maiwa and Kusamfa in the south. Additional tributaries include Randa in the west and Basara in the east.
Notable attractions within the Falgore Game Reserve include:
It is home to a rich diversity of indigenous plant and animal species characteristic of the Northern Guinea Savannah.
The Agency is a registered member of the Pan-African Association of Zoos, Aquaria and Botanical Garden (PAAZAB) since 2007 and the International Zoo Educators (IZE) since 2010.
The Kano Zoological and Botanical Garden offers various facilities, including:
The Agency remains committed to wildlife conservation, environmental education, and providing recreational opportunities for the public while ensuring the preservation of Kano State’s natural heritage.
To preserve and protect wildlife and their habitats through conservation, research and awareness.
To ensure an effective conservation of wildlife species.
