CENTRAL EQUATORIA - South Sudan is home to a magnificent array of wonderful wildlife, including giant yet elegant birds, stately elephants, majestic giraffes and now, the largest land mammal migration on earth.

This spectacular phenomenon, known as the Great Nile Migration, was revealed during the first comprehensive aerial survey of wildlife in the country which recorded about six million antelope making their way across the Boma Badingilo Jonglei landscape.

Conducted by African Parks and the South Sudan Ministry of Wildlife Conservation with support from The Wilderness Project, the survey was officially launched by the President of South Sudan and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping mission, UNMISS.

“This is a national asset and a gift, one which provides a source of unity and pride for the people of South Sudan at a time when the country is otherwise battling food insecurity, economic hardship, flooding, and the impact of conflict in Sudan. This announcement is an opportunity for the country to embark on a new narrative that is not just conflict and poverty,” said Nicholas Haysom, the Head of UNMISS.

The survey findings were described as confirming a remarkable and unmatched wildlife phenomenon across a landscape of immense ecological importance.

“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 the nation and the international community. It has brought us the position of number one (in the world),” said the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit.

“I call on the security forces, particularly the Ministry of Wildlife and its partners, to prioritize training and equipping wildlife rangers to combat poaching and wildlife trafficking. I also urge the private sector to embrace this exciting opportunity and invest in wildlife tourism ventures. Protecting our heritage is a shared responsibility,” he added.

This precious heritage is under threat from exploitation with a decline in non-migratory species, such as elephants, warthogs, cheetahs and hippos, over the past decades which have also been marred by civil war and a dire economic and humanitarian situation. Their preservation is critical given the transformative potential as an anchor for a viable tourist sector and a source of non-oil revenue. Achieving this requires all partners coming together to protect a land rich in biodiversity and some of the world’s most beautiful creatures.

“The long-term conservation and protection of this migration landscape can only be achieved through active participation and engagement with government institutions at national, state and district levels, traditional authorities, and importantly, the local communities,” said Charles Wells, the Chief Operating Office for African Parks.

The Head of UNMISS also stressed the importance of enabling freedom of movement and freedom of expression to ensure that the untold story of South Sudan as a land of great abundance is promoted to global audiences, including through photos and video of the magnificent landscape.

“These are the same freedoms required to foster the kind of creative industries that will enable South Sudan to take charge of its own story, and its own destiny, to ensure this young nation does not fall off the map,” said Mr. Haysom.

“All this underscores the urgent need to redouble our collective efforts to support the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement so that South Sudan can claim it’s right to peace and prosperity. Let me reaffirm that the UN stands with you in that journey – not only as a friend of conservation, but also your partner in peace.”

The wildlife migration survey tells a story of hope for South Sudan as, what was once thought to be lost to decades of conflict, has not only been rediscovered but is thriving.