‘Devastating’: Western Australia fears a black swan moment as bird flu threatens flagship species
Western Australian authorities are concerned that the H5N1 bird flu virus could devastate the state's iconic black swan population. Experts identify the species as high-risk due to a lack of specific immune proteins, making them an indicator species for the virus's impact.
Why it matters
The potential loss of an indicator species provides critical data on the ecological impact of avian influenza and the threat it poses to biodiversity.
The black swan, which has come to define the west, has been ranked as ‘very high risk’ of becoming infected with the bird flu virus. Photograph: Christopher Hopkins/AAP The black swan, which has come to define the west, has been ranked as ‘very high risk’ of becoming infected with the bird flu virus. Photograph: Christopher Hopkins/AAP Western Australia ‘Devastating’: Western Australia fears a black swan moment as bird flu threatens flagship species The state’s bird emblem is an indicator species for H5N1, with high visibility populations and low survival rates. Experts are warning of ‘significant mortality’
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Prefer the Guardian on Google When the black swans start dying, Western Australians will know that bird flu has truly arrived.
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