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The South Sudan National Wildlife Service has rescued two warthogs from a private home in Juba, warning residents against keeping protected wild animals as pets.

Assistant Director General for Law Enforcement, Lt. Gen. Aggrey Lasu, said the warthogs are protected under South Sudan’s wildlife laws and should not be kept in homes without official permission.

“Keeping animals of Schedule 1 at home is not allowed. If you have these animals in your houses, please bring them to us before it is too late,” Lasu said.

He said wild animals require professional care, including proper feeding, treatment, and handling, which cannot be provided in private residences.

“These ones are domesticated, yet they are wild animals, so we do not need to promote such behaviours,” Lasu said.

Lasu called on anyone keeping protected wildlife to voluntarily surrender the animals to the National Wildlife Service before facing legal action.

The wildlife service said it will continue searching for illegally kept protected animals and urged the public to report cases.

The warning comes a month after a hyena was seen roaming in Juba, raising concerns over public safety.

Lasu said keeping wild animals at home puts both people and the animals at risk, adding that wildlife protection is important for conserving South Sudan’s natural heritage and supporting tourism.