ISTANBUL: (Bernama-Anadolu) More than 13,000 southern elephant seal pups have died following an outbreak of H5N1 bird flu on Australia’s remote Heard Island in the sub-Antarctic, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported, citing ABC News Australia.
Scientists from the Australian Antarctic Programme said drone and ground surveys conducted between October 2025 and January 2026 found exceptionally high mortality rates among seal pups, averaging 76 per cent across the island and reaching as high as 97 per cent in some locations. Researchers estimate that 13,359 pups died from a population of 17,354.
The outbreak marks the first confirmed detection of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus in an Australian external territory.
The virus has spread to at least six wildlife species on Heard Island, including southern elephant seals, Antarctic fur seals, king and gentoo penguins, and South Georgia diving petrels. Several hundred adult king penguins were also found dead.
Researchers believe the virus was likely introduced by migratory wildlife from the French Crozet Islands in August 2025. Heard Island lies about 4,000 kilometres (2,485 miles) southwest of Perth and 1,700 kilometres (1,056 miles) north of Antarctica.
Australian authorities said the findings highlight the continuing spread of bird flu across the sub-Antarctic region, while maintaining that the detections do not significantly increase the current risk to mainland Australia. - Bernama-Anadolu
