Fears for ‘gregarious’ local celebrity Sammy the elephant seal in Victorian bird flu hotspot
Summary
A deadly bird flu called H5N1 has spread in southwestern Victoria, Australia, killing many birds and causing concern for local wildlife, including a popular elephant seal named Sammy. The flu has also affected seals in nearby South Australia, raising fears that it could harm vulnerable marine mammals.Key Facts
- Bird flu H5N1 arrived in Portland, Victoria, causing many bird deaths.
- Sammy, a male southern elephant seal, is a well-known local animal in Portland.
- The first confirmed case in a fur seal was found near Beachport, South Australia.
- The virus spreads as scavengers eat infected bird carcasses.
- More than 100 marine mammals in Victoria have been reported sick, but no confirmed positive cases in seals yet.
- Southern elephant seals travel over 1,000 kilometers and are very social animals, increasing risk of infection.
- The bird flu killed over 13,000 seal pups on Heard Island in previous years.
- Australian sea lions are endangered, and experts worry about their risk from this virus.
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