Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape

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The Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape is a savannah ecosystem in South Sudan , which is mainly known for its animal migrations. The area is on the list of proposed UNESCO World Heritage Sites .

location

The Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape is located in South Sudan and stretches from the White Nile in the west to the border with Ethiopia in the east. The migratory herds of the white-eared cob leave the area for a while on their migration to cross the Ethiopian border into the area of ​​the Gambela National Park there.

flora

The flora is dominated by grasslands and tree savannahs, there are floodplains along rivers . Common grass genera are Hyparrhenia , Sporobolus , Pennisetum and Echinochloa . Acacias and long threads are common on trees . Fires occurring in the dry season prevent the grasslands from encroaching and are therefore essential for the ecosystem.

fauna

The most common animals in the region are the Weißohrkob ( Kobus leucotis ), the Tiang ( Damaliscus lunatus tiang ) and the mongalla gazelle ( Eudorcas albonotata ) which can form herds of thousands of animals in search of water and fresh green. The hike begins with the onset of the dry season in the savannahs of Badingilo National Park . The herds of the Tiang are now moving north to the swamps and floodplains of the Sudd , while the white-eared cob migrates from Badingilo National Park to Boma National Park in order to cross the Ethiopian border into the area of ​​the local Gambela National Park . During the rainy season, both species migrate back to the savannas of the Badingilo National Park.

The animal population is estimated at around 800,000 white-eared kobs, 160,000 tiang and 250,000 Mongalla gazelles. In addition to the migratory species, there are also a number of herbivores that are true to their location and undertake no or less pronounced migration. These include oryx ( Oryx beisa ) Lewel-hartebeest ( Alcelaphus Lelwel ), eland ( Taurotragus oryx ), reedbuck ( Redunca redunca ), Cape buffalo ( Syncerus caffer ), elephants ( Loxodonta africana ), hippos and giraffes ( Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi ). It is not yet known whether the Mongalla gazelle is migrating or staying true to its location.

Predators are represented by lions ( Panthera leo ), leopards ( Panthera pardus ), cheetahs ( Acinonyx jubatus ) and wild dogs ( Lycaon pictus ).

However, the populations of many animal species have drastically decreased due to hunting. While in 1980 29,460 zebras were still counted during the dry season in Boma National Park, this species is now probably extinct with the last confirmed sighting in 2009 and an unconfirmed one in 2013.

Avifauna

The region's avifauna is not exactly known. Ostriches of the rare subspecies Struthio camelus camelus live here, especially in the drier savannah areas.

swell