Bird flu detected on Macquarie Island for first time
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 08:02 · Archive
Bird flu has been detected on Macquarie Island, a World Heritage sub-Antarctic region, in a southern elephant seal and kelp gull.
Bird flu has been confirmed on Macquarie Island, a remote World Heritage sub-Antarctic region, in a southern elephant seal and a kelp gull. The Tasmanian government announced the positive test results on Thursday. Samples were returned with expeditioners who were evacuated from the island's research station in early October via icebreaker Nuyina due to psychosocial risks posed by a potential outbreak.
Elephant seals are particularly susceptible to the H5 strain of bird flu. The federal environment department warned in August that 'expert assessments predict a high likelihood of a significant mortality event during the upcoming breeding season'. Southern elephant seals are the largest of the world's seals, listed as vulnerable, and breed in dense colonies in spring. The island is home to large elephant seal populations close to station buildings.
Roughly 13,000 elephant seal pups died on fellow sub-Antarctic outpost Heard Island after the H5 strain was first detected there in late 2025. As of Wednesday, there have been 706 confirmed bird flu events across Australia since it was first detected in June, with South Australia recording the most at 330, including a mass mortality event involving about 900 crested terns.
How it is being reported
- First bird flu detection on remote sub-Antarctic islandTesting has confirmed the presence of bird flu on Macquarie Island, a wildlife haven in the sub-Antarctic that carries World Heritage status.The West Australian · 15 Oct, 07:45
- First bird flu detection on remote sub-Antarctic islandTesting has confirmed the presence of bird flu on Macquarie Island, a wildlife haven in the sub-Antarctic that carries World Heritage status.Perth Now · 15 Oct, 07:44
In this story: Macquarie Island · Heard Island · Tasmania · South Australia · Australia
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