Analysis of animal welfare in Sudan amid ongoing conflict, covering Nile Valley ecosystems, Sahara wildlife, livestock systems, and humanitarian impacts on animals.
Sudan is experiencing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis since the outbreak of civil war in April 2023, with fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces creating one of the world's worst displacement crises. This conflict devastates animal welfare across domestic and wild populations in a country already challenged by poverty and climate change.
The 2023 Sudan civil war has caused massive displacement of people and animals. In Khartoum and other urban areas, companion animals and zoo animals have been abandoned, starved, or killed. Khartoum Zoo—which housed giraffes, lions, and other wildlife—suffered severe losses with animals dying from neglect and fighting-related disturbances. Livestock in conflict zones have been looted, killed in crossfire, or abandoned as families flee. The destruction of veterinary infrastructure leaves surviving animals without disease treatment.
Sudan's economy is heavily dependent on livestock, with camels, cattle, sheep, and goats managed by nomadic groups including Baggara Arabs and Beja pastoralists. Darfur's pastoral communities have suffered decades of conflict affecting livestock welfare. Transhumance routes disrupted by conflict, land mines, and displacement force animals through suboptimal territories. The loss of traditional grazing lands exacerbates overgrazing and reduces animal welfare in available areas.
The Nile and its tributaries support Nile crocodiles, hippos, various fish species, and important bird populations including African skimmers and various migratory species. The Dinder National Park in southeastern Sudan hosts elephants, giraffes, and large ungulate populations, though park management has been severely disrupted by conflict. Lake Nubia (the Sudanese portion of Lake Nasser) supports important Nile crocodile populations.
Northern Sudan's desert regions historically harbored addax, scimitar-horned oryx, and Saharan cheetahs, all of which have been locally extirpated or severely reduced. Conservation organizations have explored reintroduction possibilities for scimitar-horned oryx, successfully reintroduced in Chad. The security situation makes active conservation programs extremely difficult to implement in northern Sudan.
FAO and international NGOs have attempted to maintain livestock health services in accessible areas of Sudan despite the conflict, recognizing that livestock protection is essential for food security. Emergency restocking programs help rebuild herds after conflict displacement. These interventions provide humanitarian benefits while also improving animal welfare. The scale of the crisis far exceeds available humanitarian resources.
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