South Sudan has been identified as the home of the largest land mammal migration in the world, according to a recent aerial study. The study, conducted by African Parks in partnership with the South Sudanese government, revealed that approximately six million animals migrate annually between South Sudan and Ethiopia, covering an area of 122,774 square kilometers.
This remarkable phenomenon, known as the Great Nile Migration, involves millions of antelopes, gazelles, and other wild animals moving across the Boma Badingilo Jonglei Landscape into Gambella National Park in Ethiopia. Surpassing the famous wildebeest migration in East Africa, this migration presents a unique conservation challenge for South Sudan due to the presence of various ethnic groups within the migration route.
President Salva Kiir emphasized the importance of protecting this ecosystem and transforming the wildlife sector into a sustainable tourism industry. With threats like poaching on the rise, collaborative efforts are needed to safeguard this global phenomenon and ensure a prosperous future for both wildlife and local communities.