Endangered Australian sea lion tests positive for bird flu

The first confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in an endangered Australian sea lion at Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. This development raises significant concerns for the species, which is already facing a population decline of approximately two per cent annually.

South Australian Environment Minister Emily Bourke reported that a sea lion, which had previously been attacked by a shark, died from the bird flu rather than its injuries. The virus poses a severe threat to marine mammal colonies; globally, some seal populations have seen pup mortality rates as high as 95 per cent. This follows a previous recorded case of the disease in an Australian mammal, a long-nosed fur seal that died in August.

In response, authorities are implementing mitigation strategies. While no bird flu vaccines are currently approved for mammals, officials have vaccinated over 400 seal pups against hookworm to bolster their overall resilience. Additionally, efforts are underway to trap hundreds of feral cats in the area to prevent them from contributing to the spread of the virus.