Scientists are investigating the mysterious deaths of thousands of Adelie penguins in Antarctica, raising concerns that the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus may have reached the remote continent.
During a scientific expedition last month, researchers discovered at least 532 dead Adelie penguins on Heroina Island, with estimates suggesting that several thousand may have died in total, according to a statement from Federation University Australia.
“While field tests were inconclusive, we suspect that the H5N1 bird flu virus could be responsible,” said Meagan Dewar, a wildlife biologist with Federation University who participated in the expedition. “Samples are being sent to laboratories, and we hope to have definitive answers in the coming months.”
The team found the penguin carcasses frozen and covered in snow, indicating they had died weeks or months prior to the discovery. A colony of approximately 280,000 Adelie penguins breeds on Heroina Island each year. By the time the researchers arrived, the surviving penguins had already migrated after the breeding season.
Dewar’s team also detected the presence of the H5 strain of bird flu in skua seabirds on the Antarctic Peninsula and three nearby islands. Skua seabirds are predators that feed on penguin eggs and chicks, potentially serving as vectors for the virus.
The H5N1 influenza has been spreading more aggressively in wildlife since appearing in South America in 2022. Its rapid progression to Antarctica marks a concerning development for scientists who fear it could decimate threatened species of penguins and other wildlife on the continent.
“This has the potential to have a massive impact on wildlife that is already being affected by climate change and other environmental stresses,” Dewar warned.
About 20 million pairs of penguins breed in Antarctica each year, including species like the emperor penguin, which is already facing threats from melting sea ice due to global warming. In 2022, thousands of emperor penguin chicks drowned when sea ice melted earlier than usual.
Scientists are particularly concerned that the introduction of bird flu could compound the challenges faced by these vulnerable species. The potential loss of large numbers of penguins could have significant ecological ramifications, disrupting the balance of the Antarctic ecosystem.
Researchers emphasize the urgency of monitoring and mitigating the spread of H5N1 to protect Antarctica’s unique wildlife. “It’s crucial that we understand how this virus is impacting species here so that we can develop strategies to prevent further losses,” Dewar said.
Reference(s):
Scientists investigate thousands of dead penguins for bird flu
cgtn.com
