Cyanide Ponds Kill Entire Sheep Flock in Sudan Mining Area

Cyanide Ponds Kill Entire Sheep Flock in Sudan Mining Area
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An environmental incident in Sudan’s River Nile State has renewed concerns over the dangers of unregulated gold mining after an entire flock of sheep died after drinking from ponds believed to be contaminated with cyanide and thiourea.

Images and videos of the dead animals near open mud ponds circulated widely on social media, triggering public anger and renewed calls for stronger oversight of traditional mining activities.

According to local residents, the sheep drank from uncovered chemical ponds used to process gold. These ponds reportedly contain toxic solutions used to separate gold from crushed rocks and are often left exposed without barriers or warning signs.

Residents and environmental activists said such incidents are not new, but the latest case caused particular alarm because of the scale of animal deaths. They warned that open chemical ponds near villages, grazing areas, and water sources pose a growing threat to people, livestock, and the environment.

The Sudanese Mineral Resources Company said the incident took place in an area where unregulated mining activity was being carried out with chemicals used outside approved environmental and technical standards. The company said it had sent a technical team to inspect the site and assess possible damage.

Environmental experts warned that cyanide, while widely used in gold extraction, can be deadly if handled without strict controls. They said direct exposure, inhalation of fumes, or contamination of water sources can cause severe poisoning and death.