'Sobering': Flu Strain Kills Thousands of Seal Pups
Researchers said the outbreak killed 13,359 pups, or 76% of the colony, and also spread to penguins and fur seals.
- On Wednesday, researchers reported that H5 bird flu killed an estimated 13,359 southern elephant seal pups on Heard Island, wiping out nearly 80 per cent of the pup population on the remote Australian territory.
- Scientists believe the highly pathogenic avian influenza reached the islands in August last year, likely arriving via infected wildlife from the Crozet Islands, 1,700 kilometres away.
- Researchers utilized 120 drone flights to survey the coastline, revealing an average mortality rate of about 76 per cent; in some seal harems, the virus proved even more devastating, with mortality rates hitting 97 per cent.
- Experts warn the outbreak poses a 'potentially catastrophic' threat to wildlife, with the virus also detected in king penguins and gentoo penguins; the federal government invested $113 million to strengthen preparedness.
- Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt stated, 'For now we're free from the serious and contagious H5 bird flu,' but cautioned that as the virus spreads globally, Australia must remain realistic about the likelihood of a local incursion.
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23 Articles
The macabre discovered was made by Australian scientists on this breeding colony of various animals. Seals, penguins and birds also died.
Researchers made a shocking discovery on two remote Australian islands. As part of an expedition near Antarctica, they encountered the cadavers of more than 13,000 sea elephant babies. The animals had died from avian flu. DNA studies revealed that the sea elephants and penguins and other birds living on the volcanic Heard and McDonald islands died from the H5N1 virus strain. According to scientists, the worst affected by the avian flu outbreak w…
Bangkok Post
Bird flu kills 13,000 seal pups on remote Australian island
SYDNEY - A pathogenic strain of bird flu killed more than 13,000 elephant seal pups after infecting a breeding colony on a sub-Antarctic volcanic island, Australian scientists said on Thursday.
berlingske.dk
Kristeligt DagbladScientists estimate that migratory birds have brought bird flu to remote islands in Antarctica that belong to Australia.
Scientists estimate that migratory birds have brought bird flu to remote islands in Antarctica that belong to Australia.
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