Bird flu puts one in five Australian bird and mammal species at risk
New government data indicates that nearly one in five Australian bird and mammal species faces a high to extreme risk of extinction from the H5N1 bird flu virus. Species with limited habitats, such as those on Christmas Island, are particularly vulnerable to the spreading disease.
Why it matters
The potential for mass extinction of unique Australian wildlife highlights the severe ecological threat posed by the global spread of avian influenza.
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Share A A A Almost one in five Australian bird and mammal species is at high, very high or extreme risk from the bird flu virus now spreading in Australia, according to data published on the federal environment department’s website on Tuesday evening.
Five bird species are assessed as being at extreme risk, meaning that they cannot survive where the virus occurs. They include the Christmas Island frigate bird, the Herald petrel, Houtman albatross, imperial shag on Heard Island and imperial shag on Macquarie Island.
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