The first comprehensive aerial survey of wildlife in South Sudan has been conducted, revealing the largest land mammal migration on Earth. This spectacular phenomenon is referred to as the Great Nile Migration and the survey is part of an ongoing partnership between African Parks and the Government of South Sudan, the objective of which is to ensure the region’s long-term sustainability.

 Juba, South Sudan – 25th of June 2024. His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Republic of South Sudan announced the results of the comprehensive aerial survey of the Boma Badingilo Jonglei Landscape (BBJL) which revealed approximately six million antelope, making it the world’s largest land mammal migration. The results of the systematic assessment of wildlife, livestock and human activity show that each year, millions of white-eared kob, Mongalla gazelle, tiang and reedbuck migrate across the BBJL. Gambella National Park in Ethiopia is a critical component of this ecosystem.

The survey was conducted by African Parks in partnership with the South Sudanese Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism, with support from The Wilderness Project. The findings confirm a remarkable and unmatched wildlife phenomenon across a landscape of immense ecological importance. The survey results, combined with data from the collaring of hundreds of different animals from multiple species help develop an understanding of the ecosystem allowing African Parks to develop strategies to ensure it can deliver sustainability for both the wildlife and the people who depend on it.

Many ethnic groups live within the BBJL, including the Dinka, Murle, Anyuak, Jie, Toposa, Nyangatom, Nuer, Mudari, Bari, Lokyoya, Madi, Lolubo, Ari, Lopit, Latuka, Boya, and Didinga. Each of these communities has deep cultural traditions, and livelihood activities that are firmly embedded and heavily reliant on wildlife and the vast landscapes they inhabit.

South Sudan's remarkable natural heritage, a cornerstone of its future prosperity, faces significant vulnerability despite the numbers. Unmanaged exploitation of this resource could trigger the collapse of migratory patterns, ecological integrity, and the livelihoods dependent upon them. A comparison with studies conducted in the 1980s shows that there have been substantial declines in most sedentary species which do not exhibit a migratory pattern including elephant, warthog, cheetah, hippo and buffalo.

H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan said “As we all know South Sudan is a land rich in biodiversity, boasting some of the most beautiful animals. Our grasslands and protected sites provide a haven for some of the largest populations of antelope on earth. Today with great pride I announce the findings of this census to this nation and the international community. It has brought us the position of number one (in the world). As South Sudan continues to develop we are committed to transforming the wildlife sector into a sustainable tourism industry. To activate this I call upon the security forces, particularly the Ministry of Wildlife and its partners to prioritise the training and equipping of wildlife rangers to combat poaching and trafficking of illegal wildlife products in protected areas.”

The survey covered a 122,774 km2 contiguous block, encompassing the entire known range of the four main migratory antelope species in the Great Nile Migration. Data from 251 tracking collars placed on large mammals was also integrated into the assessment, providing a holistic understanding of the region's ecological dynamics which continues across the boundary of South Sudan, into Ethiopia.

Peter Fearnhead, CEO of African Parks said “The results of this survey are nothing short of staggering. The astonishing scale of the migration is only equalled by the responsibility to ensure that it survives into the future in an extremely complex landscape. This wildlife and larger ecosystem is the basis for survival for multiple ethnic groupings which are often in conflict with each other over resources. Successful management of this landscape will only be possible through building trust with and amongst these ethnic groupings. Already the threats to the system are abundantly clear with commercial poaching of the wildlife at a scale that we have never witnessed before. Working with these local communities to protect this vital ecosystem will help perpetuate this global phenomenon whilst also bringing about stability, safety and security and creating a sustainable future for the people who live in this area – many of whom are still recovering after years of war and disruption. This survey is a testament to the dedication of and invaluable support from the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and the Ministry of Wildlife and Tourism, The Wilderness Project and our committed donors.”

H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan adds “Protecting our heritage is a shared responsibility. We are deeply grateful to our development partners for their ongoing collaboration in promoting tourism in our nation. Additionally, I urge our private sector to engage in this exciting opportunity.”

The sustained operations and infrastructure of Boma and Badingilo National Parks have been made possible by the support of several funders including Elephant Crisis Fund (ECF), Fondation Segré, Hempel Foundation, Rainforest Trust, Wildlife Conservation Network's Lion Recovery Fund (LRF), Wyss Foundation, welcoming the European Union as a new strategic donor.

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This comprehensive Systematic Reconnaissance Survey employed two planes equipped with cameras that captured over 330,000 images throughout the survey period. A team of seven graduates from the University of Juba, trained in specialised software, meticulously analysed 59,718 photos across 64 transects, documenting wildlife presence. The survey results were peer-reviewed by Dr Kevin Dunham.

The estimates, together with confidence intervals, indicate that the BBJL  contains the largest land mammal migration on Earth, including white-eared kob (5,089,421 ± 882,775), tiang (298,776 ± 179,937), Mongalla gazelle (346,273 ± 87,265), and Bohor reedbuck (161,903 ± 88,863). Altogether, these four species total 5,896,373 ± 909,495 individuals.

Situated in the east of South Sudan, the (BBJL) forms an integral part of a larger 200,000 km2 ecosystem that stretches east of the Nile, covering Central Equatoria State, Eastern Equatoria State, Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area. This immense landscape is critically important to the Sudd Swamps which are the largest wetlands in Africa and the second largest in the world.

About African Parks: African Parks is a non-profit conservation organisation that takes on the responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities. It currently manages 22 national parks and protected areas in 12 countries covering over 20 million hectares in Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

About Badingilo and Boma national parks. These two parks in South Sudan make up nearly three million hectares and are home to an abundance of wildlife, including millions of migrating antelope. Situated in the south of South Sudan, both parks are integral parts of the larger ecosystem that stretches from the White Nile to the border of Ethiopia and into Gambella National Park. In 2022, to ensure the long-term ecological, social, and economic sustainability of these globally important parks, the government of the Republic of South Sudan signed a long-term agreement with African Parks. The partnership includes the wildlife corridors and proposed extension zones in the broader landscape. These national resources are the lifeblood of the White Nile ecosystem and provide sustenance and livelihoods for millions of people.

About the Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism: The Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism facilitates and promotes the protection of biodiversity, natural ecosystems and wildlife, and ensures sustainable tourism that benefits the social and economic welfare of South Sudan. The Ministry is mandated to enter into agreements with other organisations to promote and support the execution of their mandate and ensure the long-term sustainability of its natural assets to fully unlock the ecological, financial and social value of these areas for the benefit of the people and wildlife of South Sudan.

About The Wilderness Project: By 2030, in partnership with local communities, governments, researchers and NGOs, The Wilderness Project aims to explore, study and better protect 1.2 million square kilometres of irreplaceable African wilderness. Central to this effort is to establish detailed baselines of the largely undocumented sources and watersheds of Africa’s greatest river basins – Okavango, Zambezi, Congo, Nile, Chad and Niger. We will do this by following the Great Spine of Africa (GSoA), the geographical linkage between the water towers that feed sub-Saharan Africa.