Three tons of bush meat confiscated from illegal dealers/Getty image

The Ministry of Wildlife and Tourism has confirmed the arrest of eleven people in possession of 3000 kilograms of bush-meat in Central Equatoria State.

Minister Rizig Hassan Zachariah said the suspects whom he termed as agents were apprehended Monday between Mangala – Bandingilo National Park while transporting the meat in Toyota land-cruisers.

“This time we sent forces that went toward Mangala and Bandingilo where they arrested eleven agents who were unarmed,” he told Eye Radio.

“We arrest them when they are coming with this prohibited bush meat in the Toyota Land-cruiser Pickup.”

He estimated that the confiscated meat could be from at least 110 wild animals – including dozens of antelopes.

“In our assessment, one hundred and ten or eleven [of the animals killed] are antelope and white Kobes,” Zachariah said and added that “we start the legal process with them right away.”

South Sudan has six national parks and more than 10 game reserves covering more than 13 percent of the country’s terrain.

The country has more than 300 mammal species and boasts as one of Africa’s greatest annual antelope migrations.