Endangered species at risk as bird flu spreads
Bird flu has been detected in five Australian states, raising concerns about a national wildlife emergency. Conservationists fear for the safety of over 600 native species, including several critically endangered birds currently in captive breeding programs.
Why it matters
The spread of avian influenza poses a severe threat to biodiversity and conservation efforts, particularly for vulnerable and endangered species.
Crested terns are the latest species in which suspected bird flu cases have been detected in SA. Photo: Andrew Stafford/AAP PHOTOS Bird flu cases have been detected in a fifth state, prompting warnings of a national wildlife emergency.
All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All other regional websites in your area Continue An emergency response plan has been launched in Victoria after its first positive case was confirmed on Thursday in a bird near Portland in the state's southwest.
Another was confirmed in a giant petrel, a sub-Antarctic species found at Port Lincoln in South Australia, bringing the total number of confirmed Australian bird flu cases to 28.
Confirmed cases of the deadly strain have also appeared at Western Australia, NSW and Queensland.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in