South Sudan achieves major milestone in wildlife conservation with world’s largest mammal migration

South Sudan is recording the largest mammal migration in the world, marking a significant achievement in wildlife conservation. This milestone comes at a crucial time as flora and fauna across Africa face increasing threats from human activities.

The recent aerial survey results reveal that South Sudan hosts the world’s largest land mammal migration, involving six million individuals.

This record-breaking discovery is the result of a comprehensive survey of the Boma Badingilo Jonglei (BBJL) landscape, conducted in collaboration with the South Sudanese Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism, African Parks, and The Wilderness Project.

Covering an extensive area of 122,774 km², the survey focused on the Great Nile Migration. This migration includes four main antelope species: the white-eared kob, Mongalla gazelle, and tiang, which traverse the Boma Badingilo Jonglei ecosystem and extend to Gambella National Park in Ethiopia.

President Salva Kiir Mayardit praised this achievement, emphasizing the importance of the country’s grasslands and protected areas. “Our grasslands and protected areas provide a refuge for some of the largest antelope populations on the planet. It is with great pride that I announce the results of this census to the nation and the international community today. It has put us in first place in the world,” said Kiir.

The Badingilo and Boma National Parks, now a source of national pride, cover nearly three million hectares and are part of a broader ecosystem spanning 20 million hectares across the Jonglei corridor and the White Nile.

This ecosystem also supports other endangered species such as the Nubian giraffe, northern lions, and northeast African cheetahs.

While the migratory animal populations are thriving, the same cannot be said for certain large mammals.

African Parks notes a significant decline in populations of sedentary species like elephants, warthogs, cheetahs, hippopotamuses, and buffaloes compared to studies from the 1980s. This decline underscores the ongoing challenges in wildlife conservation.

President Kiir expressed his commitment to transforming the wildlife sector into a sustainable tourism industry.

He called on security forces and the Ministry of Wildlife to prioritize training and equipping rangers to combat poaching and wildlife trafficking in protected areas.

The success of these conservation efforts also hinges on the involvement of local communities living in the Boma Badingilo Jonglei landscape, which includes diverse ethnic groups such as the Dinka, Murle, Anyuak, Jie, Toposa, Nyangatom, Nuer, Mudari, Bari, Lokyoya, Madi, Lolubo, Ari, Lopit, Latuka, Boya, and Didinga.

South Sudan’s remarkable achievement in recording the world’s largest mammal migration is a testament to the nation’s dedication to wildlife conservation and the collaborative efforts of various organizations.

This success story not only highlights the country’s rich biodiversity but also serves as an inspiration for ongoing and future conservation initiatives.