There is an enormous decline in wildlife in South Sudan. Local authorities are blaming the government for not taking the step to reduce the presence of guns in the hands of civilians.
This week more than 9 Giraffes were gunned down and killed by poachers in Boma National Park. A local authority in Boma says there is nothing they can do to protect the animals from the poachers.
The poachers killed the animals for feeding purposes, some, according to residents for trade to the neighboring countries.
Speaking a local police officer in Pibor near the Ethiopian border, the activities of Poachers have been on increase recently due to several factors. The authority in Pibor can not control and seeking government interventions or else, there will be no animals in the next 5 to 10 years in the county.
“As we talk now they are killing everything. Anything moving for food, trade to neighboring countries. You can not stop these people. They are an outlaw and have gun power. No one wants to deal with them, only government can do that.”
“These poachers killed like Nine animals this week alone. it is becoming too much.” said the local policeman who asked not to be identified to the media.
Boma National Part is one of the most beautiful National Park in South Sudan with varieties of animals that can be boost tourism activities, but the government pays attention. This is due to a long period of wars in the country.
Located in eastern South Sudan near the Ethiopia border, the Park was established in 19977 and covers a landmass of 22,800km squares of grasslands and floodplains.
The park is an important home to White-eared kob, Tiang, and Mongalla gazelle. It hosts other large mammals like Buffalo, Elephants, African Leopard, Nubian Giraffe, Oryx, Hartbeest, Norther African Cheetah, Common Eland, Lelwel hartebeest, Maneless Zebra, Waterbuck, Grant’s gazelle, Lesser Kudu, Bongo, Gaint eland, Nile lechwe. It is an important refugee for bird areas; Avifauna includes Ruppell’s vulture and the black=chested snake eagle.
The neighboring Gambela National Park in Ethiopia protects similar species. Since 2005, the protected area is considered a lion conservation unit together with Gambella National Park.
The most prominent species of the Boma National Park is the white-eared kob (Kobus kob leucotis) antelope. A UNEP study reports that the white-eared kob is found mostly to the east of Nile River in South Sudan within the clay plains and wetlands; though occurring in substantial numbers in the Boma National Park, it is reported to be found more outside the protected area.
Its migration route and population during the summer and monsoon seasons have been recorded. Its migration route over the dry and wet seasons, which is dictated by the variation in rainfall and flooding from year to year, extends over 1,600 km (990 mi); it encompasses different ecoregions in various tribal belts and exposes the species to hunting threats. In comparison to the wet season count of 680,716 in 1980 (849,365 in the dry season), the UNEP survey of 2001 reported only 176,120 during the wet season (although the two studies are not directly comparable).
The wildlife in this park has provided bush meat, which is not only a dominant food need for many people of South Sudan but also an avenue of illegal trading supported by wildlife hunting that has caused biodiversity damage. The park accounts for the greatest concentration of wildlife in the country, particularly of mammals.
South Sudan’s government is being accused by the citizens of being silent while the national resources are destroyed.