Amazing Animals South Sudan

South Sudan is a landlocked country bordering Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The country has vast plains and plateaus fed by the Nile River and tributaries. The center of South Sudan is covered by a vast wetland called the Sudd.

Official National Animal

African fish eagle

Native Animals

African bush elephants are the largest terrestrial animals in the world. They inhabit the forests, grasslands, and woodlands of the country. They strip leaves and bark from trees, particularly from acacia and baobab species. These elephants enjoy fruit and will dig for roots and tubers.

African forest elephants are the smaller of the two elephant species in Africa. They inhabit rainforests and places near water sources. They survive on a diet of herbs and trees or shrubbery leaves and large amounts of water.

Cheetahs are a large species of cat native to much of Africa. They are the fastest terrestrial animals in the world. These cats have very large builds, long, thin legs, and long tails. They eat gazelles, impalas, and springboks mostly. However, when food supplies are short, they will hunt small animals like birds and rabbits.

Common patas monkeys, also known as hussar monkeys, are a terrestrial species of monkey native to western and eastern Africa. They inhabit open tropical savanna. The fastest primate in the world, the patas monkey deserves this title due to its long limbs, slender body, and deep chest, giving this animal an amazing sprinting ability. They are diurnal animals forming troops of 10-40 individuals. Patas monkeys feed upon a wide range of food. Their diet generally consists of pods, seeds, gall, young leaves, gum, and flowers of Acacia trees, supplemented with occasional grasses, berries, and seeds, as well as insects, eggs, lizards, and young birds.

Leopards are the third largest species of wild cats in South Sudan. They inhabit rainforests and arid and mountainous areas. These big cats primarily eat a varied diet that includes mammals, birds, and reptiles. Leopards are solitary hunters, often stalking their prey before making a quick, powerful attack. They are known for their ability to climb trees, allowing them to store food away from scavengers.

Lions are one of the main emblems of Africa. They inhabit the savannas, grasslands, and shrublands of South Sudan. Lions eat large herbivores like zebras, wildebeests, antelopes, and buffaloes.

 Spotted hyenas are also known as laughing hyenas. They are a large species of omnivore native to almost all of sub-Saharan Africa. Hyenas are the most common carnivores on the continent. They have excellent night vision, being mostly nocturnal, hunting at night, and sleeping or staying near their den in the daytime.When hunting alone, they prey on smaller animals such as hares, foxes, jackals, birds, fish, and snakes, as well as carrion. In a group, they hunt medium- to large-sized hoofed animals like zebra, wildebeest, Grant’s gazelle, Thompson’s gazelle, topi, waterbuck, eland, hartebeest, and impala. They also supplement their diet with eggs, fruit, and invertebrates.

Birds

Black crowned cranes are a species of crane native to the northernmost part of sub-Saharan Africa. They are closely related to the gray-crowned cranes. They inhabit the shallow wetlands of South Sudan.

Pink-backed pelicans are a small species of birds of the pelican family found in sub-Saharan Africa. (pictured above) They inhabit flooded grasslands. Food is usually fish.

Saddle-billed storks are found in the wetlands of South Sudan. They are a species of large wading birds and inhabit forested wetlands and other floodlands. They primarily eat fish and amphibians. Their diet also includes crustaceans, small mammals, and various invertebrates.