Key facts
- An endangered Australian sea lion has died from H5 bird flu in South Australia.
South Australia has recorded its first death of an endangered Australian sea lion due to H5 bird flu. The sea lion was found dead at Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island, a major colony, and officials are monitoring the population closely due to its small size and existing annual decline.
The death of an endangered Australian sea lion from H5 bird flu raises significant conservation concerns for a species with a small and declining population, potentially leading to catastrophic losses if the virus spreads.
South Australia has recorded the first death of an endangered Australian sea lion from H5 bird flu. The sea lion was found dead at Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island, a significant colony for the species.
Environment Minister Emily Bourke stated that the sea lion was recovering from a shark attack, but bird flu was the ultimate cause of death. She noted that the Australian sea lion is a rare species in Australian waters, with 85% of the estimated 12,000 remaining population found in South Australia. A more recent estimate suggests fewer than 10,000 individuals exist.
The government is closely monitoring the population, which is already experiencing an annual decline of 2%. Bourke expressed concern that bird flu could have a devastating impact if a vaccine cannot be administered, citing a 75% reduction in seal pup populations at Heard Island due to the virus and similar catastrophic losses seen in other species globally.
Leading mammal scientist John Woinarski of Charles Darwin University fears the virus will quickly spread to the wider sea lion population due to the proximity of colonies to affected seabirds. H5 bird flu has previously caused significant losses in pinniped populations in South America and sub-Antarctica.