First detection of avian influenza in Antarctica
Concerns over penguin and seal deaths, as well as disruptions in breeding
There is a growing fear of Bird flu among the penguins and seals in Antarctica.
The British daily, The Guardian, reported on the 24th (local time) that the deadly highly pathogenic (H5N1) Bird flu was detected in Antarctica for the first time.
According to the report, scientists fear a disastrous situation where Bird flu could cause mass deaths of vulnerable populations such as penguins and seals, thereby hindering their reproduction.
This Bird flu was found in the population of brown skuas, a bird species of the gull family, located on Bird Island, part of the British territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic.
There is a possibility that these migratory birds spread the Bird flu from South America to this place. In South America, 500,000 seabirds and 20,000 sea lions are estimated to die in Chile and Peru alone due to the spread of Bird flu.
In 2021, it is estimated that millions of wild birds have died due to the highly contagious H5N1 variant outbreak.
If such Bird flu, first found in Antarctica, spreads, the damage is expected to be significant.
Ashley Bennison, in charge of Bird Island at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), said, “We will continue to monitor the species here, but at this point, we cannot be certain of the overall impact of Bird flu.”
Bird Island is one of the world’s representative wildlife habitats, home to 50,000 pairs of breeding penguins, 65,000 pairs of seals, as well as endangered bird species.
The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), a private international academic organization, assessed the Bird flu risk in Antarctica and found it highest in seals, sea lions, and seabirds, followed by penguins.
Dr. Megan Duerr, the person responsible for this assessment report, pointed out, “Bird flu could cause catastrophic breeding failure in many wildlife species in Antarctica.”
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