The world's greatest land mammal migration was hidden in plain sight for years
In short: Long presumed extinct due to decades of regional conflict, the Great Nile Migration is actually the largest movement of land mammals on Earth. Spanning over 120,000 square kilometers, this massive seasonal trek involves millions of antelopes traversing the savannas and floodplains of South Sudan and Ethiopia in search of water.
The Boma–Badingilo Migratory Landscape, also known as the Great Nile Migration Landscape, remained largely obscured from global view because of the lack of infrastructure in the region. With virtually no roads to provide access, the migration was only confirmed through aerial surveys conducted via helicopters and airplanes. This vast ecological corridor connects Bandingilo and Boma national parks in South Sudan with Gambella National Park in Ethiopia, covering a total area of 122,774 square kilometers.
The scale of this migration is staggering, significantly exceeding the famous wildebeest migration of the Serengeti. While the Serengeti migration involves approximately 2 million animals, the Great Nile event is estimated to include between 5 million and 7 million mammals. Recent surveys, including a 2023 assessment, highlight the presence of millions of white-eared kob, alongside hundreds of thousands of Mongalla gazelle, tiang, and Bohor reedbuck. These animals follow a seasonal cycle, moving in search of water between January and June, and reversing their path from November to January.
Despite its biological significance, the landscape faces mounting pressures from industrial development. The savanna and woodland floodplains are currently threatened by agricultural expansion, as well as oil, gas, and mining interests. To protect this fragile ecosystem, the Republic of South Sudan entered a 10-year management agreement with African Parks in 2022. Simultaneously, researchers based at the University of Wyoming are working to document the migration patterns of these millions of animals, aiming to secure the future of a natural phenomenon that was once feared lost to history.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Boma–Badingilo Migratory Landscape
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