Unsung Heroes of the Bush: Why Hyenas and Vultures Matter

When we think of nature’s beauty, it’s often the bold or the graceful that come to mind: lions in repose, giraffes galloping across the savannah, or a burst of colour from a lilac-breasted roller. But ecosystems are built on balance, and that balance depends as much on the clean-up crew as it does on the headliners. Enter the hyena and the vulture: nature’s most misunderstood and undervalued custodians.

They may not be the Big 5, but they're equally important, Image Credit: Marius Zeilinga

Nature’s Clean-Up Crew

Hyenas, often cast as the cackling villains of the bush, are in fact ecological powerhouses. With bone-crushing jaws and digestive systems built to process what others leave behind, they ensure no part of a carcass goes to waste. This reduces the spread of disease, curbs insect infestations, and keeps the bush clean and thriving.

Vultures, meanwhile, are often overlooked due to their hunched posture and bald heads. But beneath that ungainly exterior is a bird perfectly adapted to a critical role. Their strong stomach acids can neutralise deadly pathogens like anthrax and rabies, helping to break the chain of disease before it can reach other animals, or even humans. Their presence is a sign of a functioning, healthy wilderness.

You wish your immune system could be as good as theirs! Image Credit: Brad Mitchell

A Quiet Collaboration

What many don’t realise is how these two species often work together. Hyenas, with their strength, can open up tough hides, giving vultures access to the softer remains.

On the other hand, vultures with their aerial perspective, can spot carcasses from kilometres away, often leading hyenas to a meal they might have missed. It’s a relationship of quiet efficiency, and together they accelerate the natural recycling process, returning nutrients to the soil and closing the loop of life.

Both hyenas and vultures have unique roles in maintaining balance in the bush, Image Credit: Marius Zeilinga

Facing an Uncertain Future

Despite their critical role, hyenas and vultures are both under threat. Habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poisoning – often unintentional, from tainted carcasses left out for predators – have caused worrying declines in their numbers.

This is more than just a loss of species, but a disruption of the entire ecosystem. When these scavengers disappear, carcasses remain longer, disease risks rise, and the delicate balance tips.

The Lion King may have given hyenas a bad reputation, but they play a vital role in nature's clean-up crew, Image Credit: Marius Zeilinga

Why It Matters More Than Ever

To protect the wild, we must protect all of it, not just the beautiful or the bold. Hyenas and vultures are vital to the health of our wilderness, even if they don’t always get the attention they deserve.

We celebrate every creature that contributes to the extraordinary web of life that surrounds us. Join us at Silvan Safari, and discover how every creature, no matter how misunderstood, has a role to play.