MyWorld: South sudan ā¢ Large carnivore species such as
lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dog.
Itās not all good news, however, as South Sudanās amazing wildlife heritage is now threatened by an increase in commercial poaching, human encroachment and oil exploration. Some species, including zebra, hartebeest and buffalo, have been badly affected during the civil war and are now at risk of disappearing.
Migration The 10,000 sq km Bandingilo National Park, in a wooded area close to the White Nile, has two claims to fame: it is home to the worldās second-largest animal migration (after the Mara/ Serengeti) and is also one of the least visited national parks in the world. This latter fact is a reflection of its location
The 23,000 sq km Southern National
Yambio town, was originally set up to
and lack of tourist facilities rather than
Park is one of Africaās largest, but like
its attractiveness as a national park.
many others is rarely visited and little
ened lowland bongo. The reserve is also
known by wildlife enthusiasts.
home to leopard, chimpanzee, baboon,
The Bandingilo migration comprises a different group of animals from the wildebeest and zebra that make up the herds to the south. Bandingiloās migration is reedbuck, tiang and white-ear kob. The park also contains extensive marshlands and supports large bird populations. Although it is a major wildlife area, somewhat
conserve and protect the near threat-
The tiny 410 sq km Nimule National Park is right on the border with Uganda
giant forest hog, bushbuck and warthog. Kidepo Valley National Park in
āThere are several game reserves across South Sudan with a variety of animal species, including some of great significanceā
unbelievably the park lies within a
in the extreme south. Again, the park
Uganda is thought to be that countryās
Total Oil drilling concession.
is rarely visited. It contains elephant,
finest wildlife reserve and one with
hippo, warthog, Ugandan kob, baboon
tremendous potential; but South
National Park lies close to the
and vervet monkey. A one-day permit
Sudan can match this with its own
Ethiopian border, contiguous with that
will cost the visitor a hefty US$70.00
Kidepo Game Reserve. The reserve,
The giant 22,800 sq km Boma
countryās Gambela National Park, and
with its naturally occurring coconut
is home to white-eared kob, tiang and
Central
the mongalla. The park also contains
The 620 sq km Shambe National Park is
buffalo, elephant, leopard, zebra, oryx,
in the central area. It lies west of the road
hartebeest and cheetah.
between Yei and Maridi town bordering
WILDLIFE
the Democratic Republic of Congoās
The 9,700 sq km Zeraf Game Reserve,
Garamba National Park. The vegetation
within in the Sudd, is thought to
of Shambe National Park supports a huge
contain about half the countryās
population of elephant, buffalo, baboon, a
population of elephant and is also home
variety of antelope and ostrich.
to Nile lechwe, sitatunga (as would be
plantation, has cheetah, wild dog,
In addition to the parks, there are
kudu, buffalo and elephant.
expected in a swamp) and hippo.
several game reserves across South
South Sudan, then, has wildlife
Sudan with a variety of animal species,
aplenty, but almost no tourism. However,
including some of great significance.
if the large number of visitors to South
For instance:
Sudanās ITB stand is any guide, then
The rain forest reserve of Bangangai, on the Sudan-Congo border, west of
Kenya and Tanzania may soon be looking at a new rival for those tourism dollars.
Africaās low cost airline: www.fly540.com
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