Imo State Zoo & Wildlife Park, Zoo in Imo State, Nigeria
Imo State Zoo & Wildlife Park, also known as Nekede Zoo, is a zoo in Nekede, near Owerri in Imo State, Nigeria. The grounds cover around 10 hectares (25 acres) of forest land close to the Otamiri River, and have housed animals such as lions, chimpanzees, pythons, ostriches, and crocodiles.
The zoo was founded in 1976 by Imo State's Ministry of Agriculture as a place to protect and display animals native to the region. Over the decades it suffered from poor funding, and in 2023 the animals were removed for a relocation project that was badly managed, with many dying or going missing.
The site sits close to Owerri, making it easy to reach from the city center without a long journey. Since the park went through major changes in recent years, it is worth checking its current status before visiting.
The forest around the grounds was home to thousands of birds whose calls filled the air, making a visit feel more like walking through a living forest than a standard zoo. The nearby Otamiri River added to this natural character, setting the site apart from urban animal parks.
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