A senior SPLA officer has been arrested for poaching 20 wild animals.

The Ministry of Interior says the officer was caught yesterday at a checkpoint in Juba. Two cars full of bush meat were confiscated.

“These were only caught in the hands of one colonel of the SPLA,” says Major General Philip Chol, Director General for the national Wildlife Service.

Mr Chol says this is the second such an arrest this month.

“For the last seven days, that was March 4, we got two cars also carrying the same dry meat – 26 bundles,” he continued.

“These people jumped down from the car and threatened the security personnel in check point. They were two colonels. They came from Boma. They were carrying that meat.”

Boma national park, Pibor County of Jonglei, is home to a variety of wild animals such as elephants, giraffes, gazelles, amongst others.

Mr Chol has called for awareness on the importance of wildlife conservation.