Phillip Island reaches 1,000 penguins vaccinated against H5N1 bird flu
Around 1,000 little penguins on Phillip Island have received their first H5N1 vaccine dose, part of a plan to protect up to 5,000 birds.
Teams from Phillip Island Nature Park have successfully given the first H5N1 vaccine dose to about 1,000 little penguins, marking a milestone in a broader effort to shield the colony of roughly 40,000 birds. The target is to vaccinate 5,000 individuals at Phillip Island and St Kilda, requiring two injections per bird a few weeks apart. Environment Minister Jaclyn Symes explained that while the shot should raise antibody levels and aid recovery, it may not fully stop the disease.
The drive coincides with the first confirmed transmission of the virus to a mammal in Australia, when a long-nosed fur seal tested positive in South Australia. Reserve manager Ben Thomas described the nightly capture and handling process, noting the penguins’ feisty nature and the urgency due to their close-quarter living. CEO Catherine Basterfield highlighted the program’s novelty, calling it possibly the first mass vaccination of its scale for wild birds worldwide. The team plans to recapture the same birds in three to four weeks for the second dose.
Why it matters
Protecting the world’s largest little penguin colony helps preserve biodiversity and prevents a potential large-scale bird flu outbreak.
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