A vulture rests to the left of a carcass on a private nature reserve in Thailand. The vulture’s beak is open, pointed towards the sky on the right side of the image. At the top, the text "SHORT WAVE" appears with a stylized red and yellow wave pattern below it. On the left next to the image, a stylized red and yellow wave pattern runs vertically in front of a solid teal background.

Hundreds of scavenging animal species worldwide are declining or threatened with extinction.

Natnan Srisuwan/Getty Images

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Natnan Srisuwan/Getty Images

Worldwide, populations of scavenging animals that feed on rotting carcasses are declining. Scientists are finding that this can seriously hurt human health. NPR science reporter Jonathan Lambert has been looking into how human health is intertwined with scavenging animals and why these animals’ decline could lead to more human disease. Today, he brings all he learned, including how conservation could help, to your earholes.

Check out more of Jon’s reporting on scavengers and human health.

Interested in more science behind skincare products? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.

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This episode was produced by Berly McCoy, edited by Rebecca Ramirez and fact checked by Tyler Jones. Jimmy Keeley was the audio engineer.