SPLA soldiers are carrying out large scale poaching on animals in the state and beating up wardens trying to arrest the poachers, Wildlife officials say.

The game wardens are trying to protect a variety of animals such as giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, including elephants, in whose case, serious concerns have been raised.

Officials say the animals also include and 1.2 million antelopes of different species such as tiang, kobs and gazelles.

The wildlife department says most of these animals move toward the River Nile between December and April every year to access drinking water in Bor, Twic East and Duk counties.

But in the migration process, some of the SPLA soldiers kill them in large numbers to get meat for home consumption and for sale.

“If their vehicles come, nobody will stop them because if we stop them, that is the problem,” says Anai Aleer, an administrator.

Mr Anai said the wildlife department has deployed more than 200 wardens in each of the counties, but they are not effective because of violence from the SPLA soldiers.

“The SPLA Lorries come full of wild meat and when we stop them, they come out and beat the forces,” he said.

“They also beaten the officers, remove their ranks and beat them. Some of them were brought to Malual-chaat.”

The SPLA has acknowledged receiving reports of these incidents, but it says it needs further details about the exact locations.

“It has been taken care of by the letter written to the governor by the director general of Wildlife,” said the SPLA Spokesperson, Brig. Lul Ruai.

“But it is difficult for us to to say the crime was committed by members of SPLA, because there are also civilians who are involved in the business of hunting for wild animals.”