As bird flu edges towards this remote territory, an unprecedented move is taking place

Researchers will be withdrawn from the Australian territory of Macquarie Island in the Southern Ocean to protect their mental health amid a worsening bird flu outbreak, the Australian Antarctic Division announced on Friday. It's the first time the government has taken such a major action to safeguard the psychological well-being of its researchers. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water said it was likely the virus would wipe out thousands of elephant seals and their pups during the upcoming breeding season. "Imagine living and working in amongst thousands of seals within very close proximity in and around the station ... [and] the distress of seeing those animals, not being able to help them," the department's deputy secretary Sean Sullivan said. A mass mortality event would have "significant implications for the psychological safety of our staff" and safeguarding their well-being should be "the number one priority," Sullivan added.