Bird Flu Spread Poses Severe Threat to Australian Wildlife

Five vulnerable and endangered Australian seabird species face potential extinction if the H5 strain of bird flu reaches the continent, according to a federal government vulnerability review.

Extreme Threat to Native Seabirds

The federal government risk ranking places five native bird species at extreme risk of population collapse if infected by the H5 pathogen. According to the review, the list includes the critically endangered Herald petrel, along with the endangered Christmas Island frigate and the Houtman Abrolhos lesser noddy, imperial shag, and Heard shag, which are categorized as vulnerable species.

“Five bird species facing ‘extreme risk’ … basically if bird flu gets into these populations, extinction is what we can expect,” Gough said, adding that more than 80 endangered and critically endangered species carry a high threat ranking or worse.

Impact on Unique Mammals and Marine Life

Terrestrial mammals and marine species are also expected to suffer severe population declines if the virus establishes itself locally. According to the government assessment, the endangered Tasmanian devil and eastern quolls rank among the highest-risk mammals. While these species are likely to survive initial infection, their overall populations would face severe reductions.

In addition to marsupials, populations of dolphins, whales, sea lions, and seals are projected to experience significant disruptions. Epidemiologist Raina MacIntyre noted that unique local fauna presents an unknown variable for researchers. “We have these unique species of wildlife that don’t exist anywhere else in the world and it’s unknown,” Professor MacIntyre said, pointing to the unprecedented mutation patterns observed globally since 2020.

Biosecurity Response and Funding Debates

Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt stated that officials anticipate the virus moving inland following dozens of coastal detections, with the upcoming spring breeding season introducing additional risk factors. “This is likely to be a very serious event,” Watt said, noting that the government has invested approximately $47 million over the past two years to manage threatened species populations and remove invasive pests like feral cats and pigs.

While the federal biosecurity response has drawn praise from conservation advocates, funding dedicated specifically to wildlife resilience has lagged. Gough called for an immediate emergency investment of $200 million separate from standard biosecurity measures. “We won’t be able to stop bird flu spreading through wildlife, so the best response to that needs to be dealing with all the other threats,” Gough said, citing the need to manage foxes, cats, rats on islands, and wetland connectivity.

Regarding vaccination strategies, Minister Watt explained that practical limitations prevent widespread immunization of wild birds. “It requires two doses of vaccines, and it’s hard enough to catch these birds once, let alone twice to give them a booster, so realistically it’s not possible to vaccinate native birds,” Watt said. However, he confirmed that trials are currently underway to assess whether vaccination is viable for captive birds in zoos and specialized breeding facilities.

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