Australia has just 12,000 sea lions left – and ‘carnage’ may await them as bird flu takes hold, scientists warn
Scientists warn that the H5 bird flu virus could cause catastrophic losses to Australia's small sea lion population following confirmed cases in fur seals. Experts fear the virus will spread rapidly through colonies due to their proximity to affected seabirds.
Why it matters
The potential impact on endangered or small-population marine mammals represents a significant conservation threat with ecological consequences.
A fur seal on Kangaroo Island. A second suspected case of bird flu in the mammals has been found after the South Australian government confirmed the first case last week. Photograph: DEA/P. JACCOD/De Agostini/Getty Images A fur seal on Kangaroo Island. A second suspected case of bird flu in the mammals has been found after the South Australian government confirmed the first case last week. Photograph: DEA/P. JACCOD/De Agostini/Getty Images Bird flu Australia has just 12,000 sea lions left – and ‘carnage’ may await them as bird flu takes hold, scientists warn Virus has already caused catastrophic losses in pinnipeds in South America and sub-Antarctica, particularly among pups
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