12 November 2026 | Chuil Payam, Nyirol County, South Sudan
Camera-trap images have confirmed the presence of African elephants in the Sobat Corridor, marking an encouraging milestone for community-led conservation and highlighting the urgent need to protect wildlife and support local communities.
On 7 November, 15 Community Wildlife Ambassadors (CWAs) and two Agency for Conservation and Development (ACD) staff travelled to Wangnyai, Dichen, Magar and Kolkiir streams to inspect 12 camera traps installed two weeks earlier. The mission aimed to obtain clear photographic evidence of elephants whose presence had long been reported through community accounts, tracks, dung, feeding sites and skeletal remains.
On the morning of 9 November, the team discovered images showing a group of seven elephants, including a young calf estimated to be approximately two weeks old. Five other cameras also recorded elephant groups, bringing excitement to the team. Although the images do not yet establish the total population or number of distinct herds, they provide valuable evidence for further monitoring.
The cameras also captured roan antelopes, white-eared kob and hyenas, underscoring the conservation importance of habitats, west of the Sobat River.
ACD calls on the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), UNDP and peacebuilding partners to work with communities to address intra-clan and intercommunal conflicts. Restoring trust and security will help protect women and children while creating safer conditions for wildlife conservation.
Investment in agriculture, trade and other resilient livelihoods is equally urgent. These activities can deliver tangible peace dividends, strengthen household food security and support community efforts to protect elephants and their habitats. Agencies such as UNFAO, WFP, Action Against Hunger, OXFAM International and National NGOs in the HDP nexus are requested to collaborate and work with the communities of the Sobat corridor to protect local populations and the large biodiversity.
This work was made possible through funding from the Elephant Crisis Fund, an initiative of the Wildlife Conservation Network and Save the Elephants.