A rare Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) on Kangaroo Island has been confirmed to have died from highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu. The sea lion had recently been attacked by a shark, weakening it. Testing revealed the cause of death was the virus. Another dead sea lion is being tested.
The first confirmed H5N1 death recorded for this species in Australia marks a significant and worrying moment for Australian wildlife. These sea lions are the rarest pinniped to breed on our coasts. They’re considered endangered, as their population is under 12,000. This species of sea lion breeds slowly, meaning even a limited outbreak of bird flu could be very bad news for breeding colonies.
