Kangaroo Island's seal population under threat from H5 bird flu

The H5N1 bird flu has spread to Kangaroo Island, forcing marine experts to ask what can be done to protect species susceptible to the virus, such as the sea lion population.Wayne Boardman from Adelaide University's School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences says the pros and cons of any intervention need to be weighed up."The issue now with bird flu being found on Seal Bay is that it's almost certainly going to go from the birds into the sea lions," Dr Boardman said."We've known from historical events in South America that sea lions and fur seals and the southern elephant seals down in Heard Island are particularly susceptible to this virus."Wayne Boardman from Adelaide University's School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences. (Stephen Opie)About 5 per cent of the species' entire global population lives at the site, and experts fear what the virus could do to the population of around 12,000 animals.One strategy could involve treating the species for hookworm, an infection prevalent in pups."This hookworm infection is passed on from the mother to the baby via the milk, and so as they get this hookworm infestation it causes anaemia and general weakness," Dr Boardman said."In the face of another virus coming or a virus coming into this sort of situation, then you know those animals that are particularly weak or a bit under condition might be even more susceptible."However, treating the pups is a "contentious question". "We wouldn't know whether it would improve their ability to fend off [the bird flu] virus, but certainly the virus is very pathogenic, very virulent against sea lions and seals," he said."But if it [treatment] gives them just a little bit of extra help, then that might be a good thing."The thing that you need to consider with that is the disturbance that you might cause to those animals … is the benefit going to outweigh the cost of doing it?"Another possible step is a mammalian bird flu vaccine, which is being trialled in the United States. "The idea was to actually trial it on these northern elephant seals in captivity to see whether it would confer immunity and to then see if it was feasible to potentially use it in the Hawaiian monk seals," Dr Boardman said."I think it would be a really good thing to consider in the not too distant future, if not retrospectively."Sea lions breed every 18 months. (ABC News: Che Chorley)However, again Dr Boardman stressed that there would need to be lots of steps before that could happen."At what point do you say we need to risk it versus we've got animals that are dying left, right and centre?" he said."It's a very hard one, and I know generally speaking that the authorities would not really want to use an untried vaccine unless there was really good evidence that it might have some effect."What has been done?Beach tours at Seal Bay have been temporarily paused to help protect the local sea lion population. (Caroline Horn)One step authorities have taken is issuing a pause on beach tours at Seal Bay. Tourists are still able to visit and observe the sea lion population at Seal Bay, with boardwalk tours still open. Exceptional Kangaroo Island owner Craig Wickham. (Caroline Horn)Craig Wickham, who owns Exceptional Kangaroo Island, running wildlife tours, said the restrictions were a long time coming."It all seems to be fairly practical, well thought through and it's something which we're just going to have to deal with," he said."But I guess we're sort of in the space now where, you know, we've had fires, we've had COVID, we've had all sorts of things which have impacted on travellers and on experience, and so I think people have become fairly flexible in terms of 'OK, things happen'."We're not judged by what happens; it's how we respond to that and particularly around the communications."Giovanna Paresxhi, from Brussels, arrived today on the island, and Seal Bay was her first stop. (Caroline Horn)For Giovanna Paresxhi and her family, who had come from Brussels, arriving on Kangaroo Island today, Seal Bay was a priority first stop.Though they were only recently informed that they would be unable to enjoy the beach tour, Ms Paresxhi and her family did not contemplate cancelling and instead wanted to do whatever was permitted."I mean, we came to see the nature because Australia is great in our minds, in our eyes, it's really great for nature," she said. "We are very happy with what we have seen so far. We also could see a sea lion mum breastfeeding a little one, so this is amazing."Giovanna Paresxhi and her family say even with the recent restrictions, Seal Bay is a must-see on any Kangaroo Island visit. (Caroline Horn)Having now done the boardwalk tour, Ms Paresxhi said she was glad her family had not altered their plans."I think it's worth still not cancelling everything, but to come even for the boardwalk," she said."It's a must-see. We thought about that before [sic], but now it's confirmed that I would recommend to every person coming to Australia and to Kangaroo Island to do this little tour. It's really something."