Wildlife poaching is on the rise in South Sudan’s Jonglei State due to economic hardship among communities, a wildlife official said.
Major General Mawut Wuoy, the state director for wildlife conservation made the remarks on Radio Tamazuj’s agriculture and wildlife program.
“In all the areas of Jonglei, wildlife has become food and a source of income for the locals. Bush meat is now all over markets. As wildlife authorities, we cannot effectively protect our animals because we lack funds. There is no means of transport and civilians are more armed than us,” Mawut explained.
He added, “Wild animals die in thousands everyday because the Murle, Anyuak, Nuer, Jie, Kachipo, Dinka and Pari tribes rely on bush meat. If this continues without regulation, our animals may get extinct. Already, the big animals fled to neighboring countries during the civil war”.
Mawut warned the locals against poaching, describing it as a crime.
He urged the government and relevant aid agencies to provide funds for wildlife protection and awareness creation among the locals.
The official stressed the importance of wildlife conservation, saying the country can generate huge income by preserving its natural resources.