Two in five penguins could die if bird flu reaches Australian colony

• Volunteers who monitor a colony in Melbourne say up to two in five of its 1,400 little penguins could die if the H5 bird flu reaches the area.
• Australia recently confirmed its first mass die-off of wild seabirds from the H5 virus at Baudin Rocks, South Australia, where approximately 50 dead and 30 sick birds were found.
• The H5 strain has been detected in 78 wild seabirds across Australia since early this year, with seven cases in Victoria, primarily in crested terns.
• Victorian authorities have reported a cluster of dead and sick crested terns in the Glenelg River estuary, indicating the disease is spreading and impacting wildlife further.
• The Environment Minister warned of likely further die-offs, saying this is the beginning of a long and difficult journey for Australian wildlife, though human infections remain rare.

IN FULL

Australia’s little penguin colony could lose up to 40% of population to bird flu