Arabic version: نحو 400 نوع أسترالي يواجه خطر إنفلونزا الطيور
According to The Guardian, almost 400 native Australian bird and mammal species have been assessed as facing high risk or worse from the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus. The federal government assessment covered more than 2,000 native species, with nearly one in five rated at extreme, very high or high risk.
Species considered at least high risk include penguins, fur seals, quolls, dolphins, more than 300 birds and the Tasmanian devil. The assessment warns these animals could suffer severe reductions in population size or viability if the virus reaches them. Five species are rated at extreme risk, meaning they are unlikely to survive where the virus occurs.
More than 80 endangered and critically endangered species are considered to face at least high risk. Australia’s three resident seals — the Australian fur seal, New Zealand fur seal and Australian sea lion — are all rated very high risk. The Tasmanian devil and eastern quoll, both assessed as high risk, are identified as the land mammals at greatest threat.
Professor John Woinarski of Charles Darwin University, who helped devise the analysis, said it had produced a bleaker picture than previously expected and warned of major consequences for many species. BirdLife Australia chief executive Kate Millar said the confronting list could help the country prioritise protection for species most at risk.
The H5N1 virus has killed millions of birds and mammals since spreading from Europe in 2021. Australia was the final continent breached six weeks ago, after infected Antarctic and subantarctic migratory seabirds were found dead and sick in Western Australia and South Australia. The virus has been confirmed in more than 100 individual birds, with detections also confirmed in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
Conservation groups have called for a $200m package to expand on-ground wildlife protection, including feral animal controls. The government said it had committed $113m to prepare for bird flu, including $47m to accelerate protective action for threatened species and biodiversity.
