'Pathetic' detail in Australia's attempt to curb looming mass extinction threat
A deadly strain of avian influenza that's swept the globe could reach Australia this month, prompting concerns thousands of birds could die.
Australia’s wildlife is facing what could be an unprecedented mass extinction event this spring, and conservationists have described the funding allocated by the federal government to fight the threat as “pretty pathetic”. High pathogenic avian influenza has spread to every other continent including Antarctica, killing tens of millions of birds and mammals but it’s expected to make its way here when migratory birds arrive.
While the Invasive Species Council believes the government has been slow to tackle the issue, it's impressed that it appears to be now taking it seriously, but it has calculated just $580,000 has been directed specifically to protecting wildlife. The advocacy group claims a chance to secure funding in the May budget was missed and now the money required to protect Aussie wildlife from the virus isn't available.
“The problem is they’ve been caught with their pants down, and now they’re scrambling to respond. And we’re pleased that they are, but if it turns up this spring we are not prepared,” spokesperson Jack Gough told Yahoo News.
Related: New Zealand prepares for threat of avian influenza as virus spreads to Antarctica
How bad will avian flu be for Australia's wildlife?
At a national forum facilitated by the Biodiversity Council in August, University of Melbourne microbiology expert Dr Michelle Wille warned that other than Oceania the “virus is everywhere” and “moving fast”.
When the deadly HPAI H5N1 strain gets to Australia she expects the impact will be “catastrophic” just like overseas. “It’s going to rock up, and it’s going to cause massive widespread deaths with very large outbreaks, and lots of dead animals on the landscape.”
Her 2023 study found the 356 species had been impacted by the virus, but the number is likely higher now. Mass mortalities within populations have been high — for instance, in Peru around 40 per cent of pelicans died in two months.
The virus is also spreading among mammals with over 50 species impacted. In June, experts were alarmed after it infected field mice in the United States, with one warning it’s “unheard of” for them to catch influenza virus. More than 30,000 South American sea lions and 18,000 elephant seals have been killed by HPAI, and Australia’s own sea lion population is believed to be at risk.
All birds associated with water in Australia including penguins, swans and ducks are expected to be highly threatened by the disease. But if the virus becomes established it could spread to other native birds and mammals.
Related: Meat linked to avian influenza
Why isn't there more money to protect wildlife?
To Gough there appears to be a “persistent fatalism” within government that birds are going to die. “The focus seems to be on managing how people will respond to seeing dead birds, managing the potential human health risks, but not on what is needed to reduce deaths and make sure species don’t go extinct,” he said.
In May 2023, the Invasive Species Council warned Australia was not prepared to defend its native species against avian influenza. And two months later a government commissioned report warned the risk to wild birds had increased and was now "high".
While Gough thinks the government has been slow to respond, he's relieved there is now progress.
“The problem we have is that there’s no significant money dedicated to this and that’s a huge barrier to proper preparedness… they seem to be scrambling and everything is done on the fly, and birds could be turning up this month and that’s a problem.”
He wants the government to urgently develop plans to safeguard iconic sites like Kakadu National Park, Ramsar wetlands like the Coorong in South Australia, as well as Lord Howe Island, Christmas Island and Kangaroo Island.
Taskforce set up to fight avian influenza
The government is well prepared to safeguard poultry from the virus, it’s done so eight times in the past, and this year authorities contained the highly contagious H7N3 strain. But the concern this time around is the impact the more deadly H5N1 strain could have on native birds. Gough argues the issue must be a “priority” for environment ministers, and leaving the problem to the Departments of Agriculture and Biosecurity is “not good enough”.
“One thing that we need is for Tanya Plibersek to step up and do is call an emergency meeting of all state and territory environment ministers to discuss this and to emphasise the importance of the preparation,” he said.
Yahoo News sent questions to Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s office about the Invasive Species Council’s concerns, and the query was redirected to her department.
The Environment Department confirmed the likelihood that the HPAI H5N1 variant would reach Australia had “increased” and there is “extensive activity” occurring across all levels of government to prepare — and this includes protecting wildlife. It said Australia was in the fortunate position to have learned from how other countries responded.
“We have seen this disease spread rapidly globally and cause major mortality events in wildlife. The impact on our susceptible wildlife could be significant. Our greatest risk of disease entry is via migratory birds which we cannot control,” it said in a written statement.
It confirmed an HPAI Preparedness Taskforce has been set up and its members include the Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment, Department of Health and Aged Care and the National Emergency Management Agency. The government is also working with the states and territories on its response.
“The taskforce is working closely with state and territory agencies, Wildlife Health Australia, Animal Health Australia, wildlife experts, industry, NGOs and community groups, to coordinate national preparedness efforts and investments. This is to ensure a whole-of-government and one health approach to this cross-sectoral disease threat,” it said.
Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the week’s best stories.
