Boma National Park South Sudan

Boma Jonglei - Google Map

In-spite of all of the deadly fighting; in-spite of the instability that has lasted for decades; located not far from the Gambela and the Omo National Park in Ethiopia; and not far from Kenya's Lake Turkana National Parks and Uganda's Kidepo Valley National Park, is the most intact savannah ecosystem in East Africa: the Boma National Park. Described as East Africa's largest savanna eco-system. It is about 20,000 to 25,000 sq. km. (about 2,280,000 hectares or 5,631,600 acres) or more, of woodland savanna and grassland in Jonglei and Eastern Equatoria states. Like the Masai Mara-Serengeti, the park has one of the world's greatest and most spectacular animal migration that was described by The New York Times as rivaling that of the Serengeti. The Boma National Park, sometimes called - the Boma Jonglei National Park, is home to a variety of animals: elephants, giraffe and buffalo. It has numerous types of antelopes like: white-eared kob, common eland, lesser kudu, Bohor reedbuck, gazelles, tiang, Lelwel hartebeest, Beisa oryx and roan. And an impressive diversity and variety of birds; most of which are migratory.

Boma Jonglei

The Boma-Jonglei landscape encompasses Boma and Badingilo National Parks, broad pasturelands and floodplains, the vast swamps and internationally recognized wetlands of the Sudd, including the Zeraf Game Reserve and the proposed Loelle protected area. The landscape covers parts of Jonglei, Eastern Equatoria, and Central Equatoria states, supporting an abundance of wildlife species, including elephants, giraffe, elands, oryx, lions, wild dog, buffalo, and the endemic, endangered antelope species Nile Lechwe. Sudan Tribune

• This 77,220-square-mile landscape is about the size of New York State.
• Around 1.3 million antelopes migrate across the Boma-Jonglei Landscape taking advantage of seasonal changes in water and food supplies.
• Among the world's most important bird areas, the Sudd Swamp is a stopover site for birds migrating between Africa and Eurasia. Wildlife Conservation Society

Boma National Park

Very hopefully, Sudan and Southern Sudan in particular - will settle down. And have peace. Much needed peace that will not only allow its people to build and have normal lives, but, too, let its abundant and varied wildlife thrive and be useful and profitable:

Before Southern Sudan descended into civil war in 1983, the country's protected areas supported some of the most spectacular and important wildlife populations in Africa, and hosted the second largest wildlife migration in the world. Surveys in the preceding years revealed that Boma National Park, west of the Ethiopian border, as well as the Sudd wetland and Southern National Park near the border with Congo, provided habitat for large populations of kob and topis (two types of antelope), buffalo, elephants, giraffes, hartebeests (another antelope), and lions. Sudan's forest reserves also provided habitat for bongo (also an antelope), giant forest hogs, red river hogs, forest elephants, chimpanzees, and forest monkeys. WCS

Boma National Park (2,280,000 ha) was established in 1977 but has not been gazetted. The Anyuak, Murle and Toposa peoples are the principal inhabitants of the area. The Anyuak and Murle traditionally hunt during the dry season while the Toposa hunt during the rains. Sustainable traditional hunting practices have, however, now been disrupted with the introduction of firearms resulting in increased hunting pressure. A further threat is the presence of large numbers of cattle in the park, creating conflict with game for water and grazing during the dry season and also resulting in overgrazing. Birdlife

Boma National Park

Three years ago, MSNBC reported:

More than a million animals — including elephants, buffaloes, ostriches, lions, giraffes and a rare type of stork — have been unexpectedly seen living and migrating across Southern Sudan, where no surveys of wildlife had been conducted for the past 25 years due to civil war in the region.

Decades of war wrought significant damage to the region, along with excessive hunting, desertification of the land and periodic droughts, so wildlife numbers were declining in the stricken country. Based on observations in other war-torn nations, conservationists thought the wildlife in Southern Sudan would be wiped out, but it wasn't.

Sudan - both Sudans - such beautiful and wonderful countries. With abundant, vast resources. Enough. Their people have had enough. Enough of uncertainty instability, insecurity and wars. It is time, that these two of the poorest countries in Africa and yet very rich with resources, to stop fighting; and stop focusing only on oil. South and North Sudan have extensive and enormous natural resources. It is time their politicians and leaders put petty differences aside and do the needed and whatever it takes; and invest in making their people develop and secure. It is time they allow their people to have normal lives. And let their wildlife and habitats BE.

With insecurity and instability, poor infrastructure, many armed militias and tribesmen around the park - Boma National Park needs much better planning and management to thrive. It needs much more investments in protecting wildlife and their habitats; and in the tourism industry - financial, material, much better infrastructure and many more, well trained personnel, to both protect its wildlife and to serve in the tourist industry. All unlicensed firearms in the country, especially in Jonglei and Eqauatria, should be collected. Poaching should be stopped. And above all: to benefit and profit from what remains of its wildlife and other natural resources, South Sudan needs security and stability.

The Boma National Park is one of the least known and least visited natural, wildlife wonders of the world. Although very sparsely populated, it has faced intense danger from the continuous conflict in the region. A region that was once the cradle of humanity. Now, with intensive and expanding oil and other economic activities going on, in and around the park; with instability and insecurity still continuing, the park's and its wildlife's survival and sustainability will continue being threatened and in danger. Unless the government of Southern Sudan and conservationists, do all they can to protect and conserve what is undoubtedly not only South Sudan's, but Africa's and the world's greatest treasure: Southern Sudan's pristine land and rich wildlife.

+ The Sudan Tribune
+ See photos of Boma by: Miguel Juárez Lugo
+ National Geographic: South Sudan Guide
+ South Sudan: Fauna and Flora 
+ World Travel Guide: South Sudan
+ Lonely Planet: South Sudan Guide
+ Wiki Travel: South Sudan Guide
+ Trip Advisor: South Sudan Travel Guide 
+ NPR: South Sudan Battles Poaching In Quest For Tourism
+ Images: Google