The future of the iconic Tasmanian devil may be in jeopardy, with the Commonwealth Chief Vet warning that if the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu makes it to Australia this spring it could push the species closer to extinction.
The deadly new H5N1 strain of bird flu has spread to all continents apart from Australia in recent years. Experts predict it could arrive with the spring migration of shorebirds and seabirds from the northern hemisphere and cause ‘catastrophic’ impacts for native birds, including possible localised extinctions.
Scavengers and predators are known to be at particularly high risk of infection through eating infected birds or carcasses and, at a recent briefing for stakeholders, the Commonwealth Chief Veterinary Officer Beth Cookson specifically identified Tasmanian devils and eagles as species at risk.
Invasive Species Council Advocacy Director Jack Gough said:
‘Tassie Devils have been pushed to the brink of extinction by a devastating facial tumour and are also battling land clearing, mining, logging, and road deaths.
‘The introduction of this deadly strain of bird flu could be catastrophic, derailing recovery efforts, reducing genetic diversity and threatening their survival.
‘Dead birds can remain a source of infection for weeks and animals that scavenge, like Tassie devils and eagles, or come into close contact with carcasses are at risk of infection and death.
‘Robbins Island in north west Tasmania for example is a refuge for Tassie devils which are free from the facial tumour disease, but this population could be severely reduced if migratory birds bring the virus to the island.
‘I am very concerned that despite recent welcome focus from the government on preparation for this deadly virus, there is still only a tiny $580,000 allocated by the Commonwealth for preparations to save wildlife.
‘This lack of funding is directly limiting the ambition of departments to actually save wildlife like Tassie devils.
‘The current preparation focus seems to be on lowering public expectations and ensuring good communication, rather than seriously exploring and implementing ways to reduce wildlife deaths.
‘Potential options to reduce death rates include carcass removal, vaccination of at-risk animal populations and ensuring disturbance from tourism and hunting is prevented.
‘We are also concerned that comprehensive identification of priority at-risk wildlife and sites, and the development of response plans for these, has not yet occurred.
‘There are no detailed plans we are aware of specifically to reduce deaths in Tassie devils, eagles, black swans, sea lions or other species.’
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Background:
- H5N1 Clade 2.3.4.4b is a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza – also known as bird flu – that’s been killing millions of wild birds and tens of thousands of wild mammals as its spreads across the globe.
- In South America, H5N1 killed 40% of the Peruvian pelican population, >30,000 sea lions, 97% of elephant seal pups born in southern Argentina in 2023 and >650,000 native birds.
- After H5N1 reached Antarctica earlier this year, Australia became the only continent free of the virus. The virus could reach our shores as early as this spring through the migration of shorebirds and seabirds from the northern hemisphere, and without proper preparation its effects could be catastrophic.
- Since mid-August, the federal government has undertaken a series of preparatory workshops under the overall banner of Exercise Volare.
- The Invasive Species Council recently joined multiple agencies and stakeholders to take part in a “scenario-based” event that tested Australia’s preparedness to respond to a hypothetical detection of H5N1 in Australia. At this briefing the Commonwealth Chief Veterinary Officer Beth Cookson specifically identified Tasmanian devil and eagles as threatened species which could be impacted. This is the first time we are aware that these species have been identified by the government as at risk.
- Robbins Island, a key Tasmanian Devil habitat, is at heightened risk this spring as migratory shorebirds and seabirds from the northern hemisphere arrive, potentially carrying the highly infectious virus.
- Already decimated by the devastating Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), which has wiped out 95% of the population, Tasmanian Devils are now fighting for survival on multiple fronts. In addition to DFTD, they face mounting pressures from land clearing, mining, logging, and road collisions.
Australian H5N1 bird flu risk assessment
- The Australian Government commissioned a risk assessment of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) which was released in July 2023.
- The assessment found that the risk of ‘HPAI virus exposure and establishment in resident wild birds’ is ‘moderate/high’ and that the impact of this would be ‘catastrophic’, leading to an overall risk of ‘high’.
- Some key findings from this assessment include:
- Extrapolating from global outbreaks of HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, there are likely to be significant consequences associated with incursion and establishment of HPAI in Australia via wild birds given a moderate likelihood of incursions.
- The frequency of HPAI incursions into Australia via wild birds may be significantly lower compared with other continents and as a result, containment of outbreaks may be more achievable in the Australian context if they are identified early.
- Consequences to wild birds are assessed as CATASTROPHIC with moderate uncertainty, consequences to poultry are assessed as HIGH with moderate uncertainty and consequences to wild mammals are assessed as MINOR with moderate uncertainty.
- In multiple outbreaks the scale of mortality has been extremely high, often involving deaths of 100s, 1,000s or 10,000s of individuals with significant proportions of birds, resulting in mortality globally estimated to be in the millions.
- The Australian black swan has recently been determined to be highly susceptible.
Impacts overseas
- From Oct 2021-April 2023, more than 335 species of wild birds were impacted in 8,403 reported wild bird outbreaks globally.
- Since arriving in South America in late 2022, bird flu has killed more than 30,000 South American sea lions, 17,000 southern elephant seal pups and unknown numbers of porpoises, dolphins and otters, as well as at least 650,000 native birds.
- The mortality rate of elephant seal pups in Argentina’s Península Valdés reached 97% in 2023 compared to only 1% in 2022.
- Mass mortality events have been observed in penguins and skuas since bird flu arrived in Antarctica in early 2024. The virus arrived at the end of the breeding season for birds and mammals, so even greater impact is expected in the warmer months.
- In the UK, H5N1 has wiped out about 30% of the country’s breeding population of roseate terns, great skua and gannets.
- Since 2020, there have been outbreaks in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America, South America and Antarctica – Australia remains the only continent free of high pathogenicity avian influenza.
- Humans and other mammals can become infected through contact with live or dead infected animals, or contaminated environments. Current strains of avian influenza do not appear to transmit between humans.
What to look out for
- The public should report any unusual bird deaths immediately by calling the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
- Wildlife Health Australia have produced detailed advice for people who encounter sick or dead wild birds.
- Look for:
- Small groups or clusters (5 or more) of sick or dead wild birds of any species.
- Individual or less than 5 sick or dead wild seabirds, waterbirds, shorebirds or birds of prey (e.g. eagles, hawks)
- Infected live birds may show a wide range of signs if they are sick, including:
- lack of coordination, tremors, swimming in circles
- twisted necks or other unusual posture
- inability to stand or fly
- diarrhoea
- difficulty breathing, coughing or sneezing
- swelling around the head, neck and eyes
- cloudiness or change in colour of the eyes.
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