Black Eagles play a vital role in the ecosystem but unfortunately this is not always recognised by farmers and are often accused of killing lambs and other small stock. More often than not a Black Eagle feeding on a lamb is scavenging from a carcass of an animal that died from other causes. Studies have proved that as soon as Black Eagles disappear from an area the resident Dassie population increases rapidly to the point where they compete with sheep for food. A pair of Black Eagles and their eaglet accounts for 400 dassies a year. This controls the dassie population to such an extent that a farmer will have grazing for 33 more head of sheep on his farm. Black Eagles are therefore without doubt useful birds as far as farmers are concerned, and deserve their fullest protection.