Bird flu has wiped out more than 75% of baby southern elephant seals on Australia's remote Heard Island, according to a fresh report by wildlife biologists. The H5N1 strain, first spotted last August, has also claimed lives among king and gentoo penguins, although their numbers have been less affected.
The study, currently posted on the preprint server BioRxiv and awaiting peer review, relied on drone footage and on‑site sampling. Nine species were examined, six of which tested positive for the virus, including the Antarctic fur seal and South George diving petrel.
Researchers estimate that 13,359 pups — more than three‑quarters of the 17,364 present — died, and in some areas the mortality rate reached 97%. Adult king penguins also suffered a noticeable spike in deaths, while other species such as albatrosses and the Heard Island shad were unaffected.
"These observations show the continued eastward expansion of the virus around the sub‑Antarctic region," says lead author Dr Julie McInnes. The findings echo similar outbreaks on South Georgia and underline the threats to Australian territories.
Environment Minister Murray Watt called the seal deaths "sobering" and urged that Australia remain vigilant about a potential incursion onto the mainland. The Australian Antarctic Program will maintain active monitoring of the islands for any further spread of H5N1.
