Australia has long relied on volunteers and wildlife carers. As bird flu spreads, they will need support
Australia is facing a significant bird flu outbreak, highlighting the nation's heavy reliance on underfunded volunteer wildlife carers. Despite government preparations, the scale of the crisis is straining the capacity of these volunteers to manage sick animals.
Why it matters
It underscores the fragility of conservation efforts when they depend on unpaid labor rather than robust public funding during environmental crises.
Australia had years to prepare for the arrival of bird flu. The deadly, highly transmissible H5N1 strain emerged in late 2020 in Asia, before spreading to every other continent bar Australia.
After the first case was confirmed in Western Australia on June 19, federal Environment Minister Murray Watt claimed the nation was well prepared . Preparations include A$47 million of on-ground action such as improving habitat and controlling introduced species, as well as boosting surveillance. The virus is now spreading domestically, with mass mortality events being detected .
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