Bird flu kills 13,000 seal pups on Australia's Heard and McDonald Islands

Australian researchers have documented an outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza on the sub‑Antarctic Heard and McDonald Islands. Drone surveys and genetic analysis from October 2025 to January 2026 showed that about 13,000 seal pups – roughly 76 % of the 17,000 recorded births – died from the virus, with mortality reaching 97 % in at least one locality.

The outbreak also affected several penguin species, including king and gentoo penguins, and adult southern elephant seals. Scientists traced the virus to the French‑controlled Crozet Islands, estimating it arrived on the Australian territories in August 2025 and spread eastward. Australian Environment Minister Murray Watt described the findings as "shocking," emphasizing the need for continued monitoring of wildlife disease in the region.