Roelf Meyer appointed South Africa's new ambassador to the US

Namibia's coastal scavengers play a vital role in the ecosystem, with new insights into their habits and challenges

Namibia's coastline supports a diverse array of wildlife, including Cape fur seals, seabirds, and desert-adapted scavengers like the black-backed jackal and the brown hyena. These 'beach cleaners' are crucial for the ecosystem's balance, adapted to the desert's harsh conditions and relying on ocean resources. Approximately 400 to 600 brown hyenas live along the coast, depending largely on washed-up seabirds and seal carcasses. Researchers have documented hyenas successfully hunting adult seals, a significant feat given their size difference. The black-backed jackal, a competitor to the brown hyena, is abundant along the coast, with populations surging near seal colonies after pupping season. Jackals are suspected of triggering a rabies outbreak among Cape fur seals, highlighting complex biological links. Endangered lappet-faced vultures have fed on seal carcasses since 2004, and the critically endangered white-backed vulture was first observed doing so in June 2025. Vulture experts are concerned about heavy metals accumulating in these birds from marine mammals. These scavenging species help prevent disease spread and facilitate nutrient exchange between the ocean and land. With desert lions now permanently established in Skeleton Coast National Park, seal carcasses provide a stable, year-round food source, offering new perspectives on marine nutrient transfer into desert ecosystems. Further research is needed on the black-backed jackal due to its role as a rabies vector, and