Given the billions of animals we torture for food, at least the ones tortured for the good of humanity are slightly less unjustified. However, "animals kill each other in nature all the time" is not a good argument, because I don't have to hold myself to the moral standards of a hyena.

The hyena can't and won't appreciate it. Why do you have moral standards that don't require reciprocity? Do you think god will reward you in heaven?

You don't have moral standards?

Do you think there is a counter somewhere, summing up how much suffering every single living being caused?

I don't feel like it is unreasonable to put a different set of ethical standards to an animal out in the wild and a human.

Sure, as long as it concerns other humans.