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, the 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 we are all striving for.

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 (EWT), in partnership with SANParks and a handful of collaborators, was at the forefront of this effort. Our teams worked tirelessly to neutralise the poisoning site, rescue affected birds, collect evidence, and support law enforcement.

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 each other’s roles: Organisations have different strengths; some focus on field operations, others on policy, education, or innovation. Collaboration means leveraging those strengths rather than 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 be aligning shared goals, defining clear roles, and working 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.
• 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. But collaboration only works when the partners involved are reputable, ethical, and truly committed to long-term outcomes over short-term recognition.

The EWT has, for over five decades, led vulture conservation in Africa. We are not just responders to poisoning incidents.. We are leaders in developing tools and technologies for monitoring, reducing threats from power infrastructure, working with the wind energy sector, protecting habitats, shaping legislation, and delivering training to hundreds of conservation professionals.

We do this not because it is easy or 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 more humility. More collaboration. And more accountability—to each other, to funders, and most of all, to the species we claim to serve.

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