WHY ARE SCAVENGERS IMPORTANT?
Scavengers such as vultures and hyenas are the natural waste disposal operatives in an ecosystem. They feed on and break up carcasses of animals that have been hunted by larger predators, or that have died through other causes. Once large carcasses have been broken up, other species can access and feed on smaller fragments that would otherwise be inaccessible because some carcasses are often too hard to break into.
HOW IT AFFECTS HUMANS?
These activities speed up the decomposition of a carcass, from which nutrients are then recycled back into the soil. If an animal has died of disease, a rapid removal and decomposition means that the disease is less likely to spread to other animals.
WHAT IF SCAVENGERS DISAPPEARED?
Without scavengers, decomposition of dead animals would be much slower and occurrence of wildlife diseases would be much higher.