First H5N1 bird-flu case confirmed in Victoria - Conservation groups sound the alarm

BREAKING: First H5N1 bird-flu case confirmed in Victoria – Conservation groups sound the alarm over state government’s lack of preparedness and urgent need to protect wild bird populations

The deadly H5N1 bird flu strain has reached Victoria after a positive test in a bird was detected in the state’s south-west. Agriculture Victoria has confirmed the virus was detected in a greater crested tern found near Portland.

The threat of the H5N1 bird flu virus is potentially catastrophic on the environment and birdlife. There are now over 25 confirmed cases across Australia.

Environment and wildlife conservation organisations have today raised serious concerns about whether the Victorian government is adequately prepared to respond, and are calling for urgent action to build resilience now in wild bird populations in Victoria by protecting native bird habitats.

BirdLife Australia, Victorian National Parks Association, Environment Victoria, and other environment groups are calling on the state government to remove all avoidable threats to wildlife (birds and marine mammals) – such as cancelling current and future native bird hunting seasons, halting any destruction of bird and wildlife habitat, and immediately boosting funding and staff capacity to key departments and agencies to deal with the potential crisis.

Chris Schuringa, Nature Campaigns Manager at Environment Victoria, said:

“The threat H5 bird flu poses to native birdlife is deeply concerning. Whole populations of native bird species like black swans, which are highly susceptible to the virus, could be impacted. We’re facing a potential wildlife emergency that the Victorian government doesn’t seem prepared for.”

“Now that the virus has reached Victoria, the state government must do everything in its power to strengthen the resilience of native bird species by stopping all unnecessary and avoidable threats to wild birds, and protecting and restoring critical forest and wetland habitat that vulnerable species rely on.”

Matt Ruchel, Victorian National Parks Association Executive Director, said:

“People hear ‘bird flu’ and assume it’s only a threat to birds, but that’s not the case. Our most iconic marine mammals such as Australian fur seals are also on the hit list. We’ve already seen thousands of devastating deaths of seal pups overseas and on the sub-Antarctic islands.”

“Victoria has a narrow window to prepare before it’s too late. Protecting our birdlife, marine wildlife and the habitats they depend on must be a priority. That means building resilience before the virus arrives by restoring habitats, reducing existing threats and making sure wildlife populations are as healthy as possible.

“It’s difficult to see how this can be achieved when the very agencies responsible for protecting our environment, DEECA, Parks Victoria, Zoos Victoria, and the Office of Conservation, have been stripped of on-ground staff and funding. We need to strengthen our frontline response, not weaken it, if we’re serious about protecting Victoria’s wildlife from the worst wildlife crisis it faces.”

Dale Wright, BirdLife Australia Acting Executive Director, Conservation and Science, said:

“We know that healthier bird populations have a better chance of withstanding the virus. We are calling on all jurisdictions to act now to implement immediate measures for response preparedness, as well as mitigating threats and bolstering bird populations to support the resilience of our native birds.”

“Co-ordination, surveillance and monitoring, understanding vaccination options, and clear guidance for all stakeholders are just some of the key measures to ensure preparedness now, we know communication and protocols with on the ground teams and the community is critical and jurisdictions need to be ready to respond.”

“Early detection will be critical, and that requires active surveillance, significant public awareness and swift responses by jurisdictions and the relevant agencies when reports are received.”

MEDIA CONTACT:

James Norman, Media and Content Manager – 0451291775
​j.norman@environmentvictoria.org.au

Background for journalists

On July 3 environment and conservation groups sent a joint statement expressing their concerns regarding the state government’s lack of preparedness to the Victorian Environment Minister, Premier, and Agriculture Minister. The groups asked that all stops are pulled out to bolster the resilience of native bird populations by urgently including:

• Implementing a dedicated bird flu response team to undertake coordinated surveillance, monitoring and early detection across Victoria, with the capacity to respond rapidly to outbreaks and manage this emergency at the scale it demands.
• Removing all avoidable threats (e.g. cancelling current and future duck and quail hunting seasons in Victoria, halting any habitat destruction such as the Nyah Vinifera SDLAM projects, etc.).
• Ensuring viable water breeding events (e.g. delivering prolonged environmental river flow events this spring and next), and restoring wetlands by recovering environmental water, progressing constraints relaxation in river systems like the Murray, and expediting purchase and protection of wetlands.
• Reversing the planned cuts to Zoos Victoria Staff, and previous cuts to the Office of Conservation regulators, as well as restoring funding to key government agencies and departments, like Parks Victoria and the biosecurity team so that the state government is prepared to address this crisis when it hits.
• Pausing ATCW (Authority to Control Wildlife) permits, particularly for susceptible species such as Black Swans.
• Ramping up funding and efforts to tackle invasive species and reduce predation pressure.
• Protecting and restoring critical bird habitats, like Western Port Bay which is home to 65% of Victoria’s threatened bird species.