By Riak Chol
Wildlife authorities in Jonglei state arrested two poachers and one Toyota Noah in separate incidences on Thursday.
Speaking to The City Review, Major General David Deng Adol, the Director for wildlife Services in Jonglei State said the Toyota Noah vehicle loaded with bush meat, believed to be from poached animals was arrested in Juba.
Meanwhile, other two men were arrested in Jonglei State’s capital Bor, while returning from poaching.
“The Toyota Noah vehicle was arrested in Juba carrying a large quantity of Meat believed to be from poaching. And other two men were arrested in Bor coming out of a bush carrying bush meat,” said Adol.
The two poachers arrested in Bor carried antelopes, and they were taken to police custody. They will face charges related to illegal hunting and wildlife trafficking, the authorities said.
Adol said that poaching activities have increased in recent months due to the economic hardship caused by the dollar inflation.
He added that they are working to increase patrols and crack down on illegal hunting in the park.
Poaching has become a major concern in Jonglei, with many species under threat. Authorities have been taking a firm stance on wildlife conservation, to ensure that these resources are protected for the future generations and for economic benefit.
Adol emphasized that the national government, headed by the national Minister of Wildlife has been touring the States of Jonglei and Greater Pibor Administrative Area to enforce the orders.
“The national government have been touring almost all the counties of Jonglei state for the last two days and in these two days poaching has reduced. The minister has today left for Greater Pibor Administrative Area,” said Adol.
The National Minister of Wildlife and Tourism visited Bor on Thursday to strategize on tackling poaching and promoting conservation. The government continues to urge the public to support these initiatives and report any illegal activities related to wildlife.
In June, President Salva Kiir urged security forces and the Ministry of Wildlife and its partners to “prioritise the training and equipping of wildlife rangers to combat poaching and trafficking” of wildlife, saying those caught should be brought to court and punished.
However, despite this directive, poaching continues to be on the rise in South Sudan, with many socio-economic challenges, compounded by a shortage of jobs and income, sustaining the activity.
“Poaching is caused by a lack of economic activity in the area, both here and in neighbouring Uganda – that is the most important thing we need to put into consideration,” Mr Ambayo Justice, a wildlife awareness warden at Nimule, told the media.
According to sources, the country’s civil war between 2013 and 2018, led to the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, some of which are now used to kill elephants for their tusks.
The conflict also triggered an economic crisis, pushing wildlife protection further down.
“Elephant numbers have reduced; ostriches and giraffes (as well). Some animal species have gotten extinct, like rhinos,” said lieutenant general Khamis Adiang Ding, director general of South Sudan’s Wildlife Ministry, in a past interview with CNA.
“They are vulnerable because of their meat and products such as ivory and tusks, which are for commercial purposes.”