Vaccination Initiative for Little Penguins in Victoria Against Avian Influenza

Wildlife conservation agencies in Victoria, Australia, have initiated a crucial vaccination program aimed at protecting little penguins from the H5 strain of avian influenza. This effort comes in response to the recent detection of the virus on Philip Island, where the population is estimated at around 40,000.

Over the next few weeks, experts plan to vaccinate more than 5,000 penguins across various colonies, including St. Kilda. The urgency of the campaign was heightened by the confirmation of a little penguin's death due to the virus.

James Todd, Victoria’s Chief Biodiversity Officer, revealed that vaccination operations will occur at night to minimize disturbance. Penguins will be captured upon their return from the sea, vaccinated, microchipped, and then released back to their burrows. Special care will be taken to prioritize those involved in the popular “penguin parade” for tourists, whose predictable movements make them ideal candidates for vaccination.

Source: en.mercopress.com