How decline of Indian vultures led to 500,000 human deaths

This is both fascinating and alarming in equal measure.

“Vultures are considered nature’s sanitation service because of the important role they play in removing dead animals that contain bacteria and pathogens from our environment - without them, disease can spread. Understanding the role vultures play in human health underscores the importance of protecting wildlife, and not just the cute and cuddly. They all have a job to do in our ecosystems that impacts our lives.”

–Eyal Frank, an assistant professor at University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy.