Australia’s marine wildlife faces an imminent and devastating threat from the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus.
Already, this virus has wreaked havoc on marine species worldwide. In South America, the virus killed 30,000 sea lions in just six months and wiped out 95% of elephant seal pups in some regions.¹
With the virus recently confirmed to have reached Heard Island in Australia’s sub-Antarctic islands, scientists warn that the virus could soon reach mainland Australia, threatening iconic species like Australian sea lions, penguins, pelicans, and other endemic wildlife.
Species like the endangered Australian sea lion, with only 12,000 individuals remaining, are found nowhere else. A bird flu outbreak could cause mass mortalities, potentially pushing this species to extinction.
The government has recognised the urgency of the situation by committing an additional $95 million to combat bird flu, $35.9 million of which has been allocated to protect threatened species and priority biodiversity.
We cannot prevent bird flu from arriving, but we can take action now to prepare.
The Australian government must urgently:
- Continue prioritising investment into a broad national wildlife preparedness taskforce, co-led by the Agriculture and Environment departments, together with non-government participants, to drive collaborative preparedness.
- Ensure that H5 HPAI preparedness and response remains a priority issue for Agriculture Ministers, and that this is demonstrated by close engagement with all key stakeholders, including the conservation and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation sectors.
- Scale up public communication, including working with non-government partners to achieve this effectively.
The window to act is rapidly closing. As the last continent free of this virus, Australia must not wait for disaster to strike. Our marine wildlife is invaluable and irreplaceable; we must act quickly to prepare for the arrival of bird flu.
Our call for action is clear and urgent.
With greater focus and investment, we can prepare for this looming threat and protect our precious marine species.
Please add your name to email the Prime Minister, Environment, and Agriculture Ministers to urgently prioritise a comprehensive marine wildlife preparedness.
Reference:
- Biodiversity Council, 2024, Deadly bird flu found to spread between mammals, raising risk to Australian sea lions, seals and dolphins, URL: https://biodiversitycouncil.org.au/news/deadly-bird-flu-found-to-spread-between-mammals-raising-risk-to-australian-sea-lions-seals-and-dolphins