Australia races to shield little penguins from H5N1 bird flu

Wildlife workers in Australia have initiated a large-scale vaccination program to protect the world's largest colony of little penguins from the highly contagious H5N1 avian influenza virus. The effort is focused on Phillip Island in Victoria, a major tourist attraction famous for its "penguin parade."

The H5N1 virus, which has caused widespread death in birds globally, breached Australia's continental landmass in June. It was recently detected in a deceased little penguin on Phillip Island, marking the first confirmed infection within the colony, which numbers up to 40,000 birds at its peak.

James Todd, chief biodiversity officer for Victoria, described the vaccination drive as "unprecedented," noting that it is the first time such a measure has been implemented on this scale for a wild population anywhere in the world. The program also extends to a little penguin population at a breakwater in St Kilda, a Melbourne beach suburb.

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This is unprecedented. There has been no vaccination of this scale in a wild population anywhere in the world.

Vaccinating wild populations presents significant challenges, particularly the need for two doses per bird. However, wildlife experts are familiar with the penguins' nesting burrows on Phillip Island and St Kilda. The birds are also accustomed to human presence due to tourism and veterinary monitoring.

The vaccination teams aim to inoculate approximately 5,000 little penguins residing near visitor areas. This extensive operation is expected to span weeks, if not months, reflecting the complexity and commitment involved in safeguarding this vulnerable species against a devastating disease.

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Trying to vaccinate wild populations is almost impossible, partly because you need two doses of the vaccine.