Escalation of H5 bird flu demands response

BirdLife Australia urges Australian Government to respond to the significant escalation of H5 bird flu with $200M for Wildlife Resilience

• H5 bird flu has now been discovered in a Long-nosed Fur Seal in South Australia, the first case of the virus in a mammal
• Last week, thousands of dead birds were discovered in mass mortality events in the state
• BirdLife Australia is calling for an appropriate level of investment to give wild bird and mammal populations the best chance possible of withstanding the virus.

BirdLife Australia CEO Kate Millar:

“Australia has passed another grim milestone. It’s devastating news, and sadly it was entirely predictable. Long-nosed fur seals are beloved animals and the community is feeling increasing despair as this virus spreads through cherished wildlife while the government refuses to provide suitable support.

The lethal potential of this virus is being proven as we speak. If a thousand dead birds detected last week in South Australia doesn’t jolt the government into taking meaningful action to support wildlife, how many will? More mass mortalities are on the way and we’re asking for the assurance that an appropriate level of funding for Wildlife Resilience is on its way too.

Coastal communities in South Australia and Victoria will attest to how devastating it is to witness wildlife dying as this virus takes hold. The community is crying out for something to be done to support our wildlife, but the silence from the Federal Government is deafening.

We are not powerless in this fight against bird flu. We can’t control the virus, but there is plenty we can control to bolster wild bird populations and give Australian wildlife the best possible chance of making it through.

Given the government was already aware of the impacts of H5 bird flu on wildlife and the outbreaks in Heard Island and McDonald Island, the cut to environment programs in the May Budget was completely irresponsible.

We need the Australian Government to invest $200M in an urgent Wildlife Resilience Package to help threatened birds and wildlife withstand H5 bird flu in Australia. That level of investment is not a maximum, it’s the floor, given what we know about what’s happening and what’s still to come.

We’re glad that vaccination against H5 bird flu is happening for some closely managed populations, but we need to remember that these are the exceptions. For nearly every wild bird species at risk in Australia, vaccines are not a viable solution. We need targeted investments in actions that support healthier wild populations like habitat protection and threat control.”

BirdLife Australia Media Enquiries
Please contact 0468 193 484 or media@birdlife.org.au

Avoid, Record, Report 

Any signs of unusual illness or death in wild and domestic birds should be recorded and reported immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline at 1800 675 888.  Do not touch any sick or dead animals.  To learn more about H5 bird flu and what it means for humans, birds and wildlife in Australia, visit our dedicated H5 bird flu information hub.