World's largest land mammal migration happens in South Sudan

The country's first comprehensive aerial wildlife survey, released on June 25, discovered approximately six million antelope during a two-week survey last year across two national parks and surrounding areas.

This colossal migration surpasses the famed annual "great migration" between Tanzania and Kenya, which involves around 1.5 million wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle.

"The migration in South Sudan blows any other migration we know of out of the water… The estimates indicate the vast herds of antelope species are almost three times larger than East Africa’s great migration. The scale is truly awe-inspiring," said David Simpson, wildlife NGO African Parks’ park manager for Boma and Badingilo national parks situated in the south of South Sudan.

These parks cover nearly three million hectares in southern South Sudan and are home to many wildlife creatures.

The migration includes four main antelope species; the white-eared kob, with a population of about 5 million, the tiang, the Mongalla gazelle, and the bohor reedbuck.

The survey's findings were based on spotters in aeroplanes, analysis of nearly 330,000 images, and tracking of more than a hundred collared animals over approximately 46,000 square miles (120,000 square kilometres).

However, conservationists warn about the rising threat of commercial poaching. "The message now is hunting is not bad, that was the past message that we used, but too much hunting is bad because it will destroy all the species," warned David Liwaya, a site officer for African Parks.

Poaching is one of the most lucrative illegal businesses globally, with an estimated annual worth of $7–$23 billion and while the most poached animal worldwide is the internationally protected pangolin, endangered animals at risk include African elephants, mountain gorillas, imperial zebra, tigers, giraffes, and rare black rhinos.

It is reported that each year, more than 150 rangers lose their lives defending these wildlife species.