South Sudan Receives Over 7 Million Dollars From USA For Wildlife Conservation

United States government has launched a 7.5 Million dollars project to conserve wild life.  The project will focus on Boma and Badingilo National park and will also support livelihood.  

The US Ambassador to South Sudan Tom Hushek said that the funding all address poaching and livelihood in the areas mentioned. 

The funding will protect endangered species and also animals like cheetah, crocodile and pangoline the ambassador confirms. 

In the ambassadors own words “South Sudan has tremendous biological resources of national, regional, and global importance. These include iconic species such as elephants, giraffes, buffalos, lions, leopards, and one of the world’s largest antelope migrations.” 

The ambassador also added that “The heart of our work in conservation is making sure that local communities in South Sudan benefit from protecting the natural resources that are their heritage.” 

David Yau You and the minister of Wildlife Conservation Jemma Nunu was also available during the launch of the project.  

The embassy further said that “Since 2012, law enforcement have made more than 100 arrests and 9 criminal prosecutions for poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking,” a statement by the U.S embassy notes, 930 kilograms of ivory and more than 10 tons of bush meat and other illegal wildlife products have been confiscated at Juba International Airport and along the borders with Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ethiopia.” 

The communities to benefit from the livelihood projects are “Four local community organizations have been established in Pochalla, Gemeiza, Lafon and Nyat to provide livelihood activities, including sustainable fishing, poultry, conservation gardening and art craft benefiting at least 25,000 people.” 

More to follow shortly....