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| SOUTHERN SUDAN HUMANE EDUCATION INITIATIVE |
| Southern Sudan's Ministry of Environment, Wildlife Conservation, and Tourism (MEWCT) often confiscates wildlife from people who have captured animals to sell, to keep as pets, or to use for food. One of the American aid workers was aware of the often poor conditions that these confiscated animals are kept in. He began talking to the MWECT in Juba, the capital of Southern Sudan, to find out ways to help them take care of the confiscated animals. |
| He had a new cage made for a cost of US $400, and handed it over to the MWECT to use for this beautiful wild cat ( pictured in our photo section to the right). Whereas previously, this cat had been kept in a small, broken cage, and in direct sun, he now lives in a new, spacious cage, under shade. Unfortunately, the cat will never be released in the wild as it has been in captivity since a baby and has a damaged leg. Confiscated animals are often used for humane education purposes. Schoolchildren are invited to visit the Wildlife Forces offices and this may be their first glimpse at many of the wildlife species still found in Southern Sudan. |
| Introducing Humane Treatment of Animals in Southern Sudan |
| Two Americans, who have been living in Southern Sudan for about three years while working for non-governmental relief and development organizations, are trying to change negative attitudes and to stop cruel behaviors towards animals. Whenever they witness cruel acts, they speak up to help the animals. |
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A recent incident spurred a discussion among us about how to expand their efforts, and use humane education in Southern Sudan to improve the plight of animals. While driving down a road in Juba, Southern Sudan's capital, Natalie screeched her vehicle to a halt, and yelled out her window, "what do you think you are doing?," which made me look up at a boy kicking a puppy down the road. I jumped out of the vehicle, grabbed the puppy and got back in the vehicle, as Natalie drove the puppy off to safety. |
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| Diesel fumes soon drenched the vehicle, and we noticed the puppy, only about five weeks old, was doused in fuel. We got back to our camp, and bathed and fed the puppy, got permission from the camp manager to keep the puppy there, where she currently resides, and is enjoying her new life, with no long-term negative effects from her previous sad existence.
The puppy, named Thuraya, has evoked some interesting comments and conversations among the people at the camp. Many of our Sudanese colleagues don't understand why we cuddle her, and can endlessly watch her play and sleep. We don't understand why some of them would just as soon throw a rock at her.
This brought to light the need to expand the American aid workers' efforts, and to raise the visibility and awareness of animal welfare among Southern Sudan's population.
The puppy, named Thuraya, has evoked some interesting comments and conversations among the people at the camp. Many of our Sudanese colleagues don't understand why we cuddle her, and can endlessly watch her play and sleep. We don't understand why some of them would just as soon throw a rock at her.
This brought to light the need to expand Natalie's and Faisel's efforts, and to raise the visibility and awareness of animal welfare among Southern Sudan's population. |
| Introducing Humane Education to Juba |
| We discussed how best to approach humane education in Southern Sudan, where, after over 20 years of war, schools have deteriorated (when there are schools) and school supplies are lacking, and the majority of the population lives in poverty. The American aid workers decided that to provide humane education Southern Sudanese style, they should use radio and the power of the church.
TV is still uncommon in Southern Sudan, and most people listen to radios. Broadcast something on the radio, and you are sure to get listeners. They plan to approach radio stations to see about getting free or low-cost air time, and will broadcast humane education messages and short radio shows on humane treatment of animals.
Most Southern Sudanese are Christians and are very religious and attend church regularly. If anyone can get a message across, it is a pastor, preacher, or other religious figure. The aid workers have already spoken with church leaders, who have expressed an interest in giving sermons on humane treatment of animals.
Children are usually the ones charged with caring for the animals in a family, are usually the ones most likely to mistreat an animal (as part of play), and are also the ones most amenable to new ideas and change. The American aid workers intend to go to Sunday school classes and have art contests and use other locally acceptable means, to get across the concept of treating animals kindly.
This is the first ever effort of this type in Southern Sudan; there has been no other animal welfare initiative here before. The team will be starting slow, but whatever they are able to do, it will be movement in the right direction for Southern Sudan's animals. |
| The Humane Education Team's Request |
| Since this is a fairly new program, we have no information yet on the cost of radio shows, but will provide this when we have the information.
They need humane education materials such as coloring books with animals, paper, crayons, and picture books with animals.
They would like to receive information about animals from a religious point of view, to provide to local church leaders (who probably know little themselves about humane animal care), who are willing to include messages about animal kindness in their sermons.
They may be able to use other humane education material, and even toys or other material that normally would not be typically used for humane education. This could be an entrée into the kids' world, and a way to begin talking to them about kind treatment towards animals. Contact us with your ideas for the humane education team and maybe together we can come up with something that works! |
Dogs and Cats in Southern Sudan
By Nickson Faustino Lawrence |
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In Southern Sudan, dogs are used to protect against thieves, as a security “machine” in compounds. Also, they are used by local people to herd cattle, sheep, and goats, and during hunting trips in the bush.
The value of dogs differs from area to area, depending on the service they deliver to the owner. Pastoralist communities such as the Bagara in Kordofan State, the Denkia, Mondari, and Bari peoples, and all other cattle keepers are very serious about their dogs because they help them on the range.
There is one clan, in the Bari tribe, called Lodara, who looks on dogs as their brothers. In their tradition, they believe that a woman who has just given birth must eat with a dog, on one plate, using one spoon, drinking water from the same cup, and sitting at the same table. This tradition is meant to prove that the baby is actually the husband’s. read more.. |
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A meeting about humane education in Southern Sudan. Click on a photo for a larger view. |
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