South Sudan is a landlocked country situated near the heart of the African continent, along the borders with Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Following years of civil conflicts, the country gained its independence from Sudan in 2011.
There are many interesting facts to explore about the country’s rich wildlife, starting with its climate and geography. South Sudan is a land of vast plains and plateaus, which are fed by the Nile River and its various tributaries. The center of the country is covered in a vast wetland called the Sudd. This unique area is recognized as a wetland of international importance.
The Official National (State) Animal of South Sudan
The African fish eagle is the official national animal of South Sudan. Representing strength and fortitude, the image of an eagle holding a spear and a spade adorn the nation’s coat of arms. One of the more interesting facts is that this species survives on a diet of fish, water birds, and even baby crocodiles.
Where to Find the Top Wild Animals in South Sudan
South Sudan has set aside six national parks, representing some 15% of the entire country, where much of the spectacular wildlife can be seen.
- The Bandingilo National Park, located in the Equatoria region near the capital of Juba, is home to the world’s second-largest annual migratory route of antelopes, including the reedbuck, tiang, and white-eared kob. Visitors might also catch a glimpse of Sudan cheetahs, caracals, East African lions, and Nubian giraffes.
- The Boma National Park, which encompasses nearly 9,000 square miles of grasslands and floodplains near the eastern border, is a refuge for antelopes, buffalo, giraffes, cheetah, leopards, elephants, eagles, and vultures.
- The Lantoto National Park covers nearly 300 square miles of forests and glades near the southern city of Yambio. Elephants, buffalos, antelopes, baboons, and ostriches are all found here.
- The Nimule National Park, located near the southern border with Uganda, features hills and low-lying areas near the Nile River. A large number of elephants roam through the park.
- The Shambe National Park, located on the west bank of the White Nile, covers 240 square miles in the remote central part of the country. Shambe is a very rich source of large wildlife, including hippos, rhinos, ostriches, giraffes, lions, and monkeys. It’s also a popular bird-watching destination along migratory routes.
- The Southern National Park is a vast mixture of rainforests, gallery forests, woodlands, and grasslands. Crocodiles, lions, giraffes, buffalo, and antelopes roam the park, while freshwater fish like catfish and lungfish abound in the nearby rivers.
The Most Dangerous Animals in South Sudan Today
South Sudan is a land of immense biodiversity, but it’s also home to many dangerous snakes and large predators that pose a danger to human life. Visitors should watch out for the following species.
- Black Mamba – Native to the savannas, woodlands, and rocky slopes of sub-Saharan Africa, the black mamba is one of the most feared snakes in the entire continent because of its large size, aggressive behavior, and toxic venom. Without proper treatment, there is a very high chance of death within the first seven to 15 hours after injection.
- Puff Adder – The dangerous puff adder is responsible for more deaths than any other snake in Africa. Because of their tendency to remain still and blend in with the environment, people often make the mistake of stepping on them. If left untreated, tissue damage can spread from the injection site and kill a person swiftly.
- Hippopotamus – Large and aggressive, the hippo is responsible for a surprising number of deaths each year when people accidentally stumble upon their territory in the wild.
- Nile Crocodile – With its powerful jaws and formidable size, the Nile crocodile is responsible for more deaths than almost any other animal in Africa.
Endangered Animals in South Sudan
South Sudan, much like the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, is a unique biodiversity hotspot unlike anything else on the planet. Few other places have such a sheer concentration of large and unique animals. But even before its independence, much of the country’s wildlife was imperiled by the combined effects of civil conflict, habitat loss, and rampant and illegal poaching. Government control is almost non-existence in some areas of the country, placing the following species at risk.
- African Elephants – The African bush elephant (and possibly even the African forest elephant) is a mainstay of South Sudanese biodiversity, but it has been pushed into endangered status from habitat loss and poaching. The ivory is particularly valued on the international black market. It’s estimated that no more than a few thousand bush elephants remain in the country and around 400,000 in the entire world.
- African Wild Dog – This is the largest species of wild canine in all of Africa, but it’s currently threatened by population fragmentation, human persecution, and disease outbreaks.
- Black Rhinoceros – South Sudan is one of the last refuges of the Eastern black rhinoceros subspecies. It is in danger of becoming extinct from habitat loss and illegal poaching.
- Northern White Rhinoceros – This subspecies of the white rhino may already be extinct in the wild.
- Grevy’s Zebra – Named after a former president of France, which at the time controlled Ethiopia, this is the largest and also the most endangered of the three species of zebra. Its status in South Sudan is currently unknown, and it may be locally extinct already.
- Nubian Giraffe – This subspecies of the giraffe only has a few thousand individuals remaining. It is distinguished from the other subspecies by the facts of its larger chestnut-colored spots, surrounded by white color.
The Flag of South Sudan
South Sudan’s flag consists of black, red, and green horizontal stripes. It also holds thin white stripes and a blue triangle on the left side of the flag, with a yellow star in the center of the triangle. The black, red, and green horizontal stripes are separated by the white stripes.