Animals in S Sudan
African Fish Eagle
Haliaeetus vocifer
The African fish eagle is South Sudan's national bird and the center of its coat of arms, adopted in 2011, where it holds a spear and a spade and looks over the country's name. It lives along the Nile, the Sudd and the larger rivers, where it catches fish near the surface with its talons.
View details→Wildlife in S Sudan
South Sudan is Africa's youngest country, independent since July 2011, and the White Nile runs through its heart from the Ugandan border to the plains of the north. Most people live in small towns, villages and cattle camps rather than cities, and Juba, the capital, sits on the river in the far south. The land moves from the rainforests and wooded hills of the southwest to the endless floodplains of the center, the Sudd swamp along the Nile and the dry grasslands of the east near Ethiopia, so animals find forest, marsh and open savanna within one country. Rain falls from about April to October, when rivers spill over the plains, and the dry months that follow push both people and animals toward the remaining water.
Cattle shape life here more than anything else. Dinka, Nuer and Mundari herders move their long horned cattle between dry season and wet season camps, sharing grass and water with wild grazers. The Sudd, one of the largest wetlands in the world, became a Ramsar site in 2006, and Boma and Badingilo National Parks now protect the heart of a huge antelope migration. Decades of war, from the long struggle for independence to the civil war between 2013 and 2018, left parks with few rangers and many animals hunted for food.
Tourism is still small, but the few visitors who come travel to the Mundari cattle camps near Juba, fly over the plains during the migration or search the Sudd for rare wetland birds. The wildlife follows these contrasts: apes and forest elephants in the southwestern forests, vast herds of antelope on the eastern plains, big cats and hyenas following them, crocodiles and hippos in the Nile and its swamps and wading birds and eagles over the floodwaters.
Most Dangerous Animals in S Sudan
In South Sudan, dangerous animals mostly affect the people who live closest to them: fishers on the Nile, families in cattle camps and farmers on the edge of the bush. Crocodiles are the main threat in the river and the Sudd, where people fish, bathe and collect water in channels the animals use every day, and they hunt by waiting below the surface. Hippos share the same waters and defend their space fiercely, especially when canoes come between them and deep water, and they also come out at night to graze on the banks near villages. On land, elephants raid crops in the south and can kill people who try to drive them away from fields. Big cats and hyenas prey on cattle, goats and sheep at the edge of the camps, and that loss of livestock is the most common source of conflict with predators, often ending with the animals being killed. Buffalos are strong and unpredictable at close range. Venomous snakes, mambas among them, are a daily risk in rural areas, and bites are serious because clinics and antivenom are far away for most of the population.
Top 10 Animals in S Sudan
South Sudan's most famous wildlife scene is its great antelope migration. An aerial survey published in 2024 by the government and African Parks estimated about six million antelope moving across the Boma, Badingilo and Jonglei landscape, which the survey described as the largest land mammal migration on Earth. From about January to June, herds leave the White Nile wetlands and walk north and east toward Boma National Park and the Ethiopian border, and some collared animals traveled around 2,000 kilometers. Big cats and hyenas follow the herds, although in smaller numbers than in the parks of East Africa. Elephants and buffalos still roam these plains and the woodlands of the south, and giraffes live in the eastern grasslands. In the forests of Western Equatoria, near the borders with the Congo and the Central African Republic, apes and forest elephants survive in thick cover that few people have surveyed. Along the Nile and inside the Sudd, crocodiles and hippos share the channels with fishers, and venomous snakes live in the grass and woodland across the south. Seeing any of these animals still means traveling with local experts, as South Sudan has very few roads and lodges.
African Elephant
Loxodonta africana
South Sudan once had huge elephant herds, but decades of war cut them by more than 90 percent, and only a few thousand remain. Most survive in the east and south, in and around Boma and Badingilo national parks, part of a vast landscape that also hosts one of the largest antelope migrations on Earth, and in the Southern National Park. Ongoing insecurity makes protection difficult across this remote country. IUCN status: Endangered.
Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
South Sudan's vast floodplains and savanna woodlands, particularly around the Sudd wetland and Boma National Park, support large buffalo herds. These animals rely on the seasonal rhythms of flooding and grass growth to find food and water. Decades of civil conflict have made wildlife monitoring difficult, but buffalo remain present across suitable habitats in the south and east of the country. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Chimpanzee
Pan troglodytes
In South Sudan, chimpanzees live in a narrow strip of forest in the far southwest, near the borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic. They belong to the eastern subspecies. Decades of conflict have made fieldwork very difficult, so this small population is poorly known, and hunting and forest clearing are thought to be the main pressures it faces. IUCN status: Endangered.
Giraffe
Giraffa camelopardalis
South Sudan is the home range of the Nubian giraffe, a Critically Endangered northern giraffe, which lives in the east of the country, in areas such as Boma and Badingilo National Parks. Decades of war and poaching for meat caused a huge decline, and recent surveys have found only small, scattered herds. Protecting these parks is vital for the subspecies. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
South Sudan holds important hippo populations along the White Nile and in the Sudd, one of the largest wetlands in the world, where permanent swamps and floodplains offer ideal habitat. Years of civil war made monitoring very difficult and brought heavy hunting for meat, but hippos still live in many of the country's river systems. They share the Sudd with crocodiles and huge herds of kob and topi that migrate across the floodplains. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Spotted Hyena
Crocuta crocuta
South Sudan's floodplains, savannas and woodlands still hold spotted hyenas, especially in the wildlife areas of Boma and Badingilo, where aerial surveys have counted huge herds of kob, tiang and gazelles moving across the land each year. Hyenas follow these herds and scavenge their carcasses. Years of conflict and poaching have reduced lions and other large mammals, but hyenas persist across much of the country. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Black backed Jackal
Lupulella mesomelas
In South Sudan, the black backed jackal is part of the eastern population of the species, which reaches the dry savannas and open grasslands of the country. It feeds on rodents, insects, birds and carrion, and often follows larger predators. Decades of conflict have left wildlife here poorly surveyed, so its numbers are unknown, but the IUCN lists it as resident. Its IUCN status is Least Concern.
Leopard
Panthera pardus
In South Sudan, leopards live in woodland savannas and riverine forests across the country, from Boma and Badingilo national parks in the east to the forests of the southwest near the Congo border. Decades of war have left few surveys, but leopards persist where prey remains, including the vast herds of white eared kob that migrate through the east. Hunting and habitat loss keep up the pressure. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Lion
Panthera leo
South Sudan's lions are among the least known in Africa. They live mainly in Boma and Badingilo national parks in the east, where aerial surveys in 2023 confirmed one of the largest land mammal migrations on Earth, with millions of antelopes moving across the plains. That huge supply of prey supports the lions, but years of war and weak protection mean their numbers are still unknown. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Oryx
Oryx gazella and Oryx beisa (genus Oryx)
In South Sudan, the beisa oryx survives on the dry plains of the southeast, around Boma and Badingilo National Parks, where aerial surveys by WCS in 2015 and 2016 recorded it alongside giraffes and other antelopes. Once feared lost during the civil war, it still lives in this remote region, although poaching and the spread of guns remain a serious threat. It is one of the rarest antelopes in the country. IUCN status: Endangered (beisa oryx).
Warthog
Phacochoerus africanus
Warthogs live across the open grasslands and wooded savannas of South Sudan, including Boma and Badingilo National Parks and the wider Jonglei region. Aerial surveys since 2023 have shown that much of the country's wildlife survived years of conflict, and warthogs remain widespread. Lions, leopards and wild dogs hunt them, and crocodiles wait in the Nile. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Wild Dog
Lycaon pictus
In South Sudan the African wild dog survives in the wild east, in the Boma and Badingilo landscape that African Parks has helped manage since 2022. Decades of conflict left the area little studied, but recent aerial surveys and collaring work have shown how much wildlife remains, and wild dogs are among the species still found there. They share these grasslands with lions, giraffes and huge herds of kob. IUCN status: Endangered.
Zebra
Equus quagga
In South Sudan, plains zebras live in the savannas of the south of the country, in smaller and much less studied numbers than its famous migratory herds of white eared kob and tiang. Decades of conflict have limited wildlife surveys and disrupted habitat across much of the country, and hunting for meat is a serious pressure. Where zebras persist, they share open floodplain and woodland with the region's other large grazing species.
African Forest Elephant
Loxodonta cyclotis
South Sudan is at the northeastern edge of the forest elephant's range. The species lives in the rainforest and forest savanna mosaic of Western Equatoria, in the far southwest, near the borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic, where Congo Basin forest reaches into the country. Years of conflict have limited surveys, so numbers are unknown, and many elephants there may be hybrids. IUCN status: Critically Endangered.
Pangolin
Manidae (8 species)
Temminck's ground pangolin lives in the savannas and woodlands of South Sudan, near the northern edge of its range. Years of conflict have made wildlife research difficult, so little is known about how many pangolins remain or where they are most common. Hunting for bushmeat and the wider trade in pangolin scales are the main threats to this Vulnerable species in the country. IUCN status: varies by species.
Kob
Kobus kob
South Sudan holds most of the world's kobs. The white eared kob, a dark subspecies, migrates each year between the Nile wetlands and Boma and Badingilo national parks. A 2023 aerial survey estimated about 5 million white eared kob, part of some 6 million antelopes on the move, which would make it the largest land mammal migration on Earth. Hunting along the migration route is the biggest threat. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Hartebeest
Alcelaphus buselaphus
In South Sudan, the Lelwel hartebeest lives in the savannas and floodplains of the east and south, including Boma and Badingilo national parks, where African Parks now works with the government. Decades of war and hunting for meat have reduced it, and current numbers are poorly known. It shares these plains with topi and buffalo. The Lelwel hartebeest is listed as Endangered. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Topi
Damaliscus lunatus
South Sudan is the stronghold of the tiang, the northern form of the topi. Aerial surveys of the Boma, Badingilo and Jonglei landscape estimated about 300,000 tiang, part of a seasonal movement of some six million antelope, the largest land mammal migration known. They move between the Sudd floodplains and higher ground as the waters rise and fall. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Bushbuck
Tragelaphus scriptus
South Sudan's bushbucks live in gallery forests and woodland across the country, from the Imatong Mountains in the south to the edges of the Sudd wetland. Boma and Southern national parks hold good habitat, and aerial surveys have found that South Sudan still holds large wildlife populations despite years of conflict. Bushbucks are shy and seen mostly near rivers. They feed mostly at night on leaves, shoots and fallen fruit. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Aardvark
Orycteropus afer
In South Sudan, the aardvark lives in the savannas and woodlands of the south and east, a vast landscape of grasslands and termite mounds shared with kob, giraffes and elephants. It feeds at night and spends the day in deep burrows, so it is rarely seen. It is hunted for its meat in some areas, and lions and spotted hyenas also prey on it. Its old burrows are used by warthogs. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Nile Crocodile
Crocodylus niloticus
South Sudan's vast wetlands, including the Sudd, one of the largest freshwater swamps in the world, give the Nile crocodile ideal habitat along the White Nile. It hunts fish and mammals in slow channels and along floodplain banks. Populations are thought to be healthy in these remote areas, though growing settlement and fishing along the river bring increasing conflict with people. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Black Mamba
Dendroaspis polylepis
South Sudan's vast savannas and open woodlands give the black mamba ideal conditions, particularly in the south and east of the country. Rural populations face considerable risk because medical facilities and antivenom are very scarce. The snake hunts birds and small mammals by day and can reach about 16 km/h over short distances, making it one of the most formidable reptiles in the region. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Bateleur
Terathopius ecaudatus
South Sudan's vast savannas and open woodlands, particularly in the southern and eastern regions, offer suitable habitat for the bateleur. This eagle soars widely each day in search of carrion, reptiles, and small prey. Classified as Endangered, it faces growing pressure from habitat disturbance linked to human activity and conflict. Protected areas such as Boma National Park provide some refuge for the species.
Grey Crowned Crane
Balearica regulorum
The Grey Crowned Crane is found across South Sudan's expansive floodplains and wetlands, including the vast Sudd, one of the world's largest freshwater marshes. Here it wades through shallow water and tall grasses in search of seeds, insects, and frogs. Unlike most cranes, it roosts in trees. With the species listed as Endangered, protecting South Sudan's wetlands is critical to its survival over the long term.
Ostrich
Struthio camelus
South Sudan's vast grasslands and flood plains, including the Boma-Jonglei landscape, provide the ostrich with open terrain it thrives in. Standing nearly 2.75 meters tall and capable of running at up to 70 kilometers per hour, it is the largest and fastest bird on land. Ostriches here feed on grasses and seeds, living in loose groups across the savanna. Their IUCN status is Least Concern.
Steppe Eagle
Aquila nipalensis
South Sudan lies on an important route for the steppe eagle, which passes through and spends the winter in the country's broad floodplains and open savanna between October and March. These habitats offer plenty of easy food, such as carrion, termites and locusts. Very little survey work has been possible here, but the eagles that winter in South Sudan face the same threats of poisoning and power lines as elsewhere. IUCN status: Endangered.
White backed Vulture
Gyps africanus
South Sudan holds some of the largest remaining savanna wildlife migrations in Africa, and the white backed vulture benefits from this abundance of large mammals in areas such as Boma National Park. However, years of conflict have taken a serious toll on wildlife and conservation efforts. Poisoning linked to poaching activity poses a growing threat to this Critically Endangered vulture across the country.
Lanner Falcon
Falco biarmicus
The lanner falcon occurs across South Sudan's open savanna, grassland, and areas of rocky terrain toward the country's more elevated regions. It hunts birds such as doves and pigeons in fast, low flights and pairs often work together to flush prey. The vast wetlands of the Sudd are less favoured habitat, but drier surroundings support resident pairs. Ongoing instability limits field research. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern.
Tawny Eagle
Aquila rapax
The tawny eagle lives across South Sudan's open savanna and dry woodland edges, from the grasslands around the Sudd to the plains of the east. It soars in search of small mammals, reptiles and carrion. Long conflict and farming expansion have disrupted its habitat, and very little survey work has been possible in the country. It nests in tall savanna trees. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Secretary Bird
Sagittarius serpentarius
South Sudan's vast flood plains and open savannas, including the expansive grasslands around the Sudd wetland, provide habitat for the secretary bird. It stalks through open terrain on foot in search of snakes, rodents, and large insects. Prolonged conflict and limited conservation infrastructure have made it difficult to assess population trends in the country. The IUCN lists the species as Endangered.
African Fish Eagle
Haliaeetus vocifer
South Sudan is one of the most important countries in Africa for the African fish eagle, which also appears on its coat of arms. The White Nile and its vast swamps, including the Sudd, one of the largest freshwater wetlands in the world, offer exceptional habitat for fish eagles and huge numbers of other waterbirds. It is also common along the Sobat and Bahr el Ghazal rivers. Pairs nest in tall trees at the edge of the swamps. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Saker Falcon
Falco cherrug
South Sudan is part of the saker falcon's winter range in East Africa. Birds that breed in Eastern Europe and Central Asia spend the northern winter in the country's open savannas and dry grasslands, where they hunt birds and small mammals before flying back north in spring. It does not breed in South Sudan, and little monitoring has been possible in recent years. The IUCN lists the saker falcon as Endangered.
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
The barn owl is found in South Sudan in open savanna, farmland, and areas near villages and towns across the more settled regions of the country. It nests in old buildings, hollow trees, and rocky outcrops, and hunts rodents at night. The extensive wetlands of the Sudd and the dense woodland of the south limit its distribution to more open habitats. In the agricultural communities of the Greater Equatoria and Greater Upper Nile regions it provides useful natural control of rodent populations that damage stored grain.
Stork
Ciconia ciconia
South Sudan's vast floodplains and wetlands, especially around the Sudd, one of the world's largest freshwater marshes, provide important wintering habitat for the white stork. Large flocks arrive from Europe each year to take advantage of the abundant frogs, insects, and small animals found across the seasonally flooded grasslands. The species does not breed here but relies on these rich ecosystems to build up energy reserves before its return migration north. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
South Sudan receives the white wagtail as a winter visitor from Europe and western Asia. Birds arrive in October and stay until March, feeding on open ground along the White Nile, in the vast Sudd wetlands, on floodplains and around villages and cattle camps, where insects stirred up by livestock are easy to catch. It lies near the southern edge of the species' range in East Africa. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
The peregrine falcon passes through South Sudan on migration, moving between breeding grounds in Europe and Asia and wintering areas further south in Africa. The vast floodplains of the Sudd wetland and the open savanna grasslands of the country provide hunting opportunities for this fast predator during its transit. Resident breeding is not confirmed, but the species is recorded across South Sudan during the northern winter months. Its IUCN status is Least Concern.
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchos
South Sudan provides wintering habitat for nightingales passing through or settling in the country during the northern winter. The mix of woodland, savanna, and dense riparian scrub found across parts of the country suits these birds well. They arrive after a long journey from their Eurasian breeding grounds and spend the season foraging quietly for insects and small berries. Like elsewhere in Africa, they are seldom heard singing during their stay. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Shoebill
Balaeniceps rex
South Sudan holds more shoebills than any other country. Most live in the Sudd, the vast swamp of the White Nile, where floating papyrus and shallow channels are full of lungfish. Some birds move between feeding and nesting areas as the floods rise and fall. They share the swamp with hippos, Nile crocodiles and kob, but drainage, fires and hunting threaten them. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What animals live in South Sudan?
South Sudan is home to African elephants and African forest elephants, chimpanzees, lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, African wild dogs, black backed jackals, buffalo, hippos, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, pangolins and aardvarks, plus antelope such as the kob, topi, hartebeest, bushbuck and oryx. The Nile crocodile and the black mamba are among its reptiles. Its birds include the shoebill, the African fish eagle, the grey crowned crane, the secretary bird, the ostrich, the bateleur, the tawny and steppe eagles, the white backed vulture, lanner, saker and peregrine falcons and storks.
What is the national animal of South Sudan?
South Sudan's national animal is the African fish eagle, which is also its national bird. It sits at the center of the coat of arms adopted in 2011, with its wings open, holding a spear and a spade, and the official description says it stands for vision, strength, resilience and majesty. The bird is common along the Nile and the Sudd.
Are there lions in South Sudan?
Yes. Lions live in the east and south of the country, mainly in and around Boma and Badingilo National Parks, where they follow the migrating herds of antelope. Their numbers are much smaller than in Kenya or Tanzania, because decades of war, hunting and conflict with cattle herders reduced them, and they are hard to see without a specialist guide.
What is the great migration in South Sudan?
It is a seasonal movement of millions of antelope between the White Nile wetlands and the eastern plains near Ethiopia. A 2024 aerial survey by the government of South Sudan and African Parks estimated about six million animals, most of them white eared kob, along with topi, known locally as tiang, and other antelope. The herds move north and east from about January to June and return when the rains come.
Where do shoebills live in South Sudan?
Shoebills live in the Sudd, the huge swamp along the White Nile, which the Ramsar Convention describes as holding Africa's largest population of this bird. They stand still in the papyrus and floating vegetation for long periods, waiting for lungfish, catfish and other prey to come close to the surface. The Sudd was named a Ramsar site in 2006, covering about 57,000 square kilometers.
Researched and written by Juan Pablo. Sources: IUCN Red List, scientific literature and regional field guides. Last updated: .