Hippos bask in the sun at the Jur River bank in Western Bahr el Ghazal State.[©Gurtong]
By James Deng Dimo
WAU, 28 January 2011 (Gurtong) – A number of wild animals including elephants, giraffes and antelopes that had almost become extinct due to poaching in the semi-autonomous region are slowly making their way back.
In Jur River County of Western Bahr el Ghazal State, three hippos are the latest attractions to the county residents.
Most residents have equated the emergence of the second largest land animals to the attainment of the independence of South Sudan after the successful referendum.
The water mammals are a sight to behold as they bask in the sun beside the vast Jur River.
The Government of Southern Sudan has heightened wildlife conservation efforts in a bid to tap the tourism potential.
The GoSS Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism in conjunction with the Wildlife Conservation Society are already working on establishing the migration patterns of wildlife between the Boma National park, Nimule National park and other areas of South Sudan.
USAID is funding the effort which has also expanded to the Badingo National park and the Jonglei plains where the selected animals were collared to track their movement with sophisticated monitoring equipment.