Wildlife Biologists Start Vaccinating Shy Albatrosses by Hand, Taking Aim at the Spread of Avian Flu in Tasmania.
Tasmania's Department of Natural Resources and the Environment began a pilot program to give two-dose H5 bird flu vaccinations to 100 shy albatrosses on remote Albatross Island in Bass Strait.
Wildlife staff from the Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE Tas) have begun a pilot program to vaccinate shy albatrosses against H5 bird flu. The work is taking place on Albatross Island, a remote Bass Strait island off Tasmania's north-west coast. It started this week and is expected to run for 3 to 4 weeks during the nesting season.
The aim is to vaccinate 100 birds, and each bird needs two doses for the vaccination to be considered effective. The shy albatross breeds only at three small island colonies in Tasmania: Albatross Island, Mewstone and Pedra Branca. Albatross Island is the only one people can reach. No positive cases have been detected in the species so far, but it is considered highly vulnerable to avian influenza. An estimated 15,000 pairs exist worldwide.
NRE Tas wildlife biologist Sheryl Hamilton described the process as complex. "Nesting birds are captured by hand by trained departmental personnel experienced in handling albatross," she said. Each bird is held by a staff member while it is assessed, weighed and vaccinated, with an experienced wildlife vet overseeing the work. Temporary non-toxic paint and numbered nest markers show which birds are in the study and which are due for a second dose. They will also help with remote monitoring later.
Crews are working in extreme conditions on an exposed island and are trying to limit disturbance to the colony. The animal ethics committee set strict permit conditions and biosecurity protocols after a rigorous assessment. NRE Tas veterinarians and biologists will later monitor the birds through remote cameras and return visits. Tasmanian Environment Minister Guy Barnett said it was a world-first attempt to vaccinate a wild albatross species against bird flu. He said the birds can be safely approached while nesting, which allows two doses and individual monitoring.
Hamilton said the controlled program will help inform whether a broader, population-level vaccination strategy could be feasible in future. Tasmania has recorded 50 H5 bird flu events since the virus was first found in a brown skua in August. None involved commercial poultry, backyard flocks or mass mortality events. About 150 little penguins were found dead on King Island in late August. The department asks the public to report sick, dead or injured birds online or through the Emergency Animal Disease hotline on 1800 675 888.
Note: The headline says the effort targets the spread of avian flu in Tasmania. The page describes a pilot to protect shy albatrosses, which have had no detected cases, and says it will inform whether broader vaccination is feasible.
At a Glance
- NRE Tas plans to vaccinate 100 shy albatrosses on Albatross Island over 3 to 4 weeks, with two doses per bird.
- The shy albatross breeds only at three Tasmanian island colonies, and an estimated 15,000 pairs exist worldwide.
- Minister Guy Barnett called it a world-first attempt to vaccinate a wild albatross species against bird flu.
- Tasmania has recorded 50 H5 bird flu events since the virus was first found in a brown skua in August.
Sources
This brief was written by Brightside Report from the reporting linked above. Spot an error? Request a correction.