African Parks, a Lion Recovery Fund (LRF) grantee, and the South Sudan government recently released data from the country’s first comprehensive aerial wildlife survey performed last year. The two-week survey, which spanned several national parks, including Boma and Badingilo National Park, revealed that South Sudan is home to nearly six million antelope—a staggering number of wildlife and a crucial food source for the country’s large lion population.
These millions of antelope are part of the world’s largest migration of terrestrial mammals, and the lions in South Sudan rely heavily on this ample source of prey to keep their population healthy. But South Sudan endured years of civil war, and some violence still occurs in parts of the country. This conflict has left many of its protected areas under-supported and vulnerable to wildlife criminals; poaching is a serious issue that threatens the wildlife in this massive migration, thus posing a danger to the sustainability of the country’s lions.
The LRF was proud to recently issue a substantial grant to African Parks to assist their efforts in protecting the multiple antelope species that are part of this migration, as well as the lions that prey upon these ungulates. With continued collaboration, this incredible and important wildlife population can be safeguarded from harm. Read more about South Sudan’s antelope migration.