Do You Remember “The Second Vulture?” A Story That Still Demands Answers

More than thirty years ago, a single photograph shook the world—a starving Sudanese child collapsed on the ground while a vulture lurked nearby.

Taken in March 1993 by South African photojournalist Kevin Carter, the image exposed the horrors of the Sudan famine and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1994.

However, the ethical debate surrounding it has not faded with time.

The child in the photo, initially believed to be a girl, was later identified as a boy named Kong Nyong. He was trying to reach a United Nations feeding centre when Carter took the shot.

Published in The New York Times, the image became a powerful symbol of suffering, yet Carter faced harsh criticism for not intervening.

During an interview, a caller confronted him, saying, “I put it to you that there were two vultures that day.” The comment deeply affected Carter, who struggled with guilt and depression in the following months.

Carter later revealed that journalists were instructed not to interfere, as Sudanese soldiers controlled the area and restricted access.

The weight of his experiences in war zones, along with growing emotional distress, led to his tragic death in July 1994.

While many accused him of failing to act, reports later confirmed that the child had survived the immediate ordeal but eventually succumbed to malarial fever years later.

Decades later, the story still sparks conversations about the responsibilities of journalists and bystanders alike.

Schools, media outlets and humanitarian organizations continue discussing its meaning, urging people to act in times of crisis rather than simply document suffering.

As famine, conflict, and injustice persist across the world, the question remains: Will we stand by or will we make a difference?