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August 8, 2026 \u2014 3:00am<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Australia is the last continent on earth to experience cases of H5 bird flu, but with that unique status comes the key advantage of several years to formulate a plan for when the disease hits \u2013 particularly when it comes to protecting and preparing our most at-risk wildlife.<\/p>\n In Western Australia, several programs have been quietly progressing to protect endangered species including the western ground parrot and the Australian lesser noddy.<\/p>\n On the Abrolhos Islands off the coast of Geraldton, a program to boost Australian sea lion pup health through building shelters and trialling hookworm treatment hopes to keep the population resilient ahead of bird flu taking hold in the area.<\/p>\n Dr Holly Raudino, a senior research scientist with the marine science program of the WA Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions, has been working with the sea lion population along the state\u2019s coast, focusing on species around the Abrolhos Islands near Geraldton.<\/p>\n Raudino said there was serious concern for the population due to the severe impact the virus has had on other sea lion colonies around the world.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cSouth American sea lions have been really affected, as have elephant seals in South America, but also more recently on Heard Island, which is one of the South Antarctic islands,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re seeing tens of thousands of pups dying in one breeding season.<\/p>\n \u201cTo put that into perspective, the Australian sea lions we think there\u2019s 12,000 or less across the species range, and they\u2019re restricted just to South Australia and Western Australia.<\/p>\n \u201cSo there\u2019s definitely the potential that we could lose the whole species.\u201d<\/p>\n Raudino and the team have been busy on the islands trying to build shore up the population ahead of any potential incursion of the virus, building shelters and checking the sea lion pups for hookworm, a parasite that has led to high mortality rates among South Australian colonies.<\/p>\n \u201cThe idea is that it reduces other stresses ahead of avian influenza getting into those colonies,\u201d Raudino said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe pups are definitely susceptible to bird flu as are the older age classes too,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the main concern is that when they are pupping, they are all in close proximity together.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know this highly pathogenic avian influenza is spreading mammal to mammal, so once it gets in it could be catastrophic.\u201d<\/p>\n Federal Environment and Water Minister Murray said the best way to protect vulnerable species in the wild from H5 bird flu was to make sure there were strong and healthy populations.<\/p>\n \u201cProtective action is giving species the best chance of withstanding and recovering from the potential impacts of H5 bird flu,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThese projects have not only helped us prepare for H5 bird flu, they will also have enduring conservation benefits for many of the species that rely on these habitats.\u201d<\/p>\n Raudino said the best-case scenario for bird flu spreading among the sea lion population \u2013 which ranges from the coast to the south of Esperance up to north of the Abrolhos \u2013 is that the virus reached an equilibrium and did not wipe out the population.<\/p>\n \u201cI really hope that we don\u2019t get local extinctions and that we\u2019re able to kind of preserve the species across their range,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is important to record and report, and the community has been doing a good job of that.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t underestimate the power of people looking and seeing things first, and then hopefully we can get measures in place.\u201d<\/p>\n WA Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn was confident the conservation initiatives would put the state in a good position to boost native species.<\/p>\n \u201cGiven H5 bird flu detections in Australia, this work is now more important than ever,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis funding is fundamental in strengthening resilience in our most threatened species.\u201d<\/p>\n Raudino said her key concern was how quickly bird flu spread across the sea lion population, and whether it was established.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have known for the last few years that it is a real threat, and we have been trying to do as much as we can\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cEven if we get mortalities we have been testing, at least to my knowledge, since 2023 and we have had time to prepare.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019re relieved that it\u2019s happened after the main pupping season for the Abrolhos. It would be great if we could get to the end of the year, and [the virus] wasn\u2019t established.<\/p>\n \u201cIn WA, it\u2019s still only been detected in the migratory seabirds.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no local transmission, which has been a huge relief.\u201d<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Australian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/630f94d2f93cafe398b97b077a8ae6c9f063b9d50a8d0646c77a683c241b2657.jpeg\")
Australian sea lions are an endangered species.<\/p>\n![\"Zac](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/b45b8c4cd6a3a142beddc9659c1ffeb5050d0e9e.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Sea](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/7fa5a6e5b400398f4abb5e04e96deb02a507c86e9b84f7ce86a860a22cec002b.jpeg\")
Sea lions are found along the coast from south of Esperance to north of the Abrolhos Islands.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/23af9ffef2f38f3e32c485bfd10cc26b3c69adff70926f6d583580e66d825e06.jpeg\")
The Abrolhos Islands are a key focus for scientists looking to prepare wildlife populations for bird flu incursions.<\/p>\n