Source: ABC
Victorian wildlife officials have begun an unprecedented effort to vaccinate thousands of little penguins against H5 bird flu as the virus spreads through Australia. The program aims to vaccinate more than 5,000 penguins at Phillip Island and St Kilda, with birds receiving two doses and being microchipped to track them.
The effort has become more urgent after H5 was confirmed in a little penguin found dead on Phillip Island shortly before vaccinations began. Previous government modeling estimated that a worst-case outbreak could kill between 8,000 and 16,000 birds in Phillip Island’s approximately 40,000-penguin colony. The colony is one of the world’s largest and an important tourism attraction, drawing more than 700,000 visitors last year.
Officials acknowledge vaccination cannot eliminate the threat but hope it will reduce mortality. Experts warn additional wildlife losses are likely as H5 continues spreading along Victoria’s coastline, potentially threatening seabirds, seals, and other vulnerable species.