Conservation egos and the cost of disunity — a call for ethical collaboration in vulture protection

In the high-stakes world of conservation, one would hope that the shared goal of protecting our planet’s biodiversity would foster unity, cooperation, and mutual respect among organisations. Yet, reality often tells a very different story.

Across South Africa and globally, the conservation NGO sector is grappling with a deep-rooted problem – ego.

This ego manifests in unconstructive competition, persistent undercutting and the co-opting of one organisation’s hard-won successes for another’s fundraising agenda.

At best, this erodes trust and at worst, it actively undermines the impact for which we are all striving.

A recent tragic event in the Kruger National Park illustrates this challenge all too clearly. The mass poisoning of vultures, iconic species already teetering on the edge of extinction, demanded an immediate, coordinated and skilled response.

The Endangered Wildlife Trust, in partnership with SANParks and support teams from the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Briner Veterinary Services, Wildscapes Veterinary Services and Hope for Wildlife, were at the forefront of this effort. Our teams worked tirelessly to neutralise the poisoning site, rescue affected birds, collect evidence and support law enforcement.

The successful rehabilitation of more than 96% of the surviving birds was due to a range of factors, including a world-first early-warning detection system, that worked. A specially designed dedicated vulture ambulance, that worked. Specially trained rangers, rehab and support staff, who all knew what to do as a team and never stopped working.

This was not a media stunt. This was the grim, emotionally taxing and technically demanding work of conservation triage.

And yet other organisations, absent from the actual response, quickly began using the incident in their fundraising and communication campaigns. Photos and headlines were repurposed to tell stories in which they played no part.

This is not only disingenuous, it is dangerous. It distorts public understanding, dilutes the visibility of the real work being done and redirects much-needed funding away from those doing the actual work.

This behaviour is not unique to vultures, nor to this particular incident. It is systemic and it is slowing our collective progress toward national and international conservation goals. If we are to solve the complex, transboundary challenges facing nature, we must raise the bar for what collaboration really means in conservation:

• Recognise and respect one another’s roles: organisations have different strengths; some focus on field operations, others on policy, education or innovation. Collaboration means leveraging those strengths instead of duplicating efforts or competing for the spotlight;


• Share credit, not just blame: when success is achieved, recognition should be distributed fairly. When things go wrong, responsibility should be shared. Trust is built in both moments;


• Create and commit to joint strategies: conservation partners should align on shared goals, define clear roles, and work from integrated plans, especially when dealing with complex issues like wildlife poisoning, climate change or habitat loss;


• Be transparent with funders and the public: clearly communicate your role in partnerships. Don’t overstate impact or appropriate the work of others. Funders should require evidence of collaboration and impact, not just compelling marketing; and


• Invest in relationship building: true partnerships take time. They require communication, humility and a willingness to listen and adapt. Technical expertise matters – but so does trust.

If we are serious about saving species and ecosystems, we need to be equally serious about how we work together. Collaboration is not a buzzword; it is a prerequisite for success.

Collaboration works only when the partners involved are reputable, ethical and truly committed to long-term outcomes over short-term recognition.

For more than five decades, the Endangered Wildlife Trust has led vulture conservation in Africa. With our partners, we have helped prevent the extinction of these vital species.

But we are not only first responders to poisoning crises — we are innovators. We lead the development of early-warning systems, monitor regional populations, mitigate threats from energy infrastructure, protect critical habitats, influence legislation and train hundreds of conservation professionals in this relentless fight to save lives.

We do this not because it is easy or makes us popular, but because it is necessary. We do it in partnership with those who share our commitment to integrity, evidence-based action and enduring impact.

The conservation sector doesn’t need more heroes. It needs humility, genuine collaboration and accountability — to one another, to our funders, and most importantly, to the species we exist to protect.

It’s time to set egos aside and get back to what really matters. DM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REeWvTRUpMk