‘Devastating’: Bird flu toll reaches SA’s pelicans
An Australian pelican is among five new H5 bird flu cases, while a second sea lion has been found dead near Victor Harbor.
Five new bird flu cases have been confirmed including the first detection in a pelican in South Australia, located at Edithburgh on the Yorke Peninsula, Environment Minister Emily Bourke confirmed on Monday.
A silver gull from Port Noarlunga, two crested terns from West Lakes and Middleton, and another little penguin in the Nene Valley have all come back positive.
It is the second little penguin to return a positive test after a confirmed case on Sunday.
Bourke also confirmed that another dead Australian sea lion had been located near Victor Harbor, following the first death of a sea lion on Sunday afternoon.
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“Having a sea lion yesterday, our most endangered seal in our South Australian waters is of concern,” Bourke said.
“We’ve also had another report today of a deceased sea lion just off of Victor Harbor, this is a case that we will now test and get those reports back if positive.”
Endangered sea lions are the rarest species of seal in Australia, with more than 80 per cent of the estimated total population of 10,000-12,000 found in SA.
The development has sparked fears of a possible extinction event after seal colonies worldwide were left devastated by the virus.
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The five confirmations on Monday afternoon take the total confirmed cases of H5 bird flu in SA to 295.
More than 11,000 community reports and have been made to the bird flu hotline since it was first established in June, while more than 2000 tests have been completed.
Bourke said a dolphin that was found dead on the shore of Port Noarlunga early Monday morning was “too decomposed” to be taken for testing.
“My very clear message is we cannot stop bird flu and it is here but everyone has a role to play,” Bourke said.
“This is devastating to the wildlife sector, we are very fortunate at this point in time that there are no cases in poultry, but our poultry industry is on high alert.”
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