An excellent article from the African Conservation Foundation detailing the critical roles of large carnivores in their ecosystems. It’s very easy for humanity to love noble, or beautiful species of animals, such as lions, but understanding the vital roll that those predators, and less attractive predators play within their own ecosystems is extremely important. There are no “good” species and “bad” species of animal, there is only balance between them and their environment. Without vultures and other scavengers, the spread of disease and decay would go unchecked. Without herbivores, flora would overgrow everything, and without predators, the herbivores would decimate all plant live to the point at which the area could not recover. Each has their own role to play, and protecting all of those roles is what will save the planet.