{"id":854211,"date":"2026-08-13T21:30:19","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T21:30:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/854211\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T21:30:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T21:30:19","slug":"farmers-very-nervous-hobart-poultry-show-cancelled-as-bird-flu-h5n1-reaches-tasmania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/854211\/","title":{"rendered":"Farmers ‘very nervous’, Hobart poultry show cancelled as bird flu H5N1 reaches Tasmania"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the past 25 years, Matthew Gunningham has been farming in the green pastures of Tasmania’s north-west.<\/p>\n

But confirmation the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu had reached the state’s shores<\/a> put his family-run farm on high alert.<\/p>\n

“I feel very nervous about it,” Mr Gunningham said.<\/p>\n

“This is a business that we’ve poured our hearts and souls into.”\"Two<\/p>\n

Matthew Gunningham fears for his flock, which numbers in the thousands. (ABC News: Sandy Powell)<\/p>\n

An infected brown skua, a migratory seabird from the sub-Antarctic region, was found at Rocky Cape, just 15 kilometres from his farm at Shakespeare Hills.<\/p>\n

So far, it is the only case in Tasmania, with no sign of any local spread of the virus.<\/p>\n

What bird flu looks like<\/a><\/p>\n

A bird’s unusual and disturbing behaviour catches the eye of passers-by. On the ground it flaps its wings, turns in circles and then somersaults.<\/p>\n

But Mr Gunningham fears for his flock of more than 4,000 laying hens if an outbreak eventually occurs.<\/p>\n

“Let’s say we [were] found to be infected, and we were directed to cull the entire flock, that would cut off the income from this enterprise entirely,” he said.<\/p>\n

“And we’d have to start back from scratch again, which would be very, very difficult \u2014 very difficult financially.<\/p>\n

“And certainly very, very difficult emotionally.”To report sick or dead birds or other animalsCall the\u00a0\u200bEmergency Animal\u202fDisease Hotline\u202f1800 675 888 (24 hours)Use the online bird flu reporting form<\/a>Do not touch sick or dead birds or other animals.<\/p>\n

To report sick or dead wildlife\u00a0(other than birds), please visit the\u00a0wildlife health in Tasmania<\/a> webpage.<\/p>\n

The virus has caused devastation to wildlife and poultry farms around the world.<\/p>\n

In anticipation of its arrival, Mr Gunningham drafted a biosecurity plan for his farm more than a year ago.<\/p>\n

He activated it once cases started to rise interstate in recent weeks.<\/p>\n

The plan includes restrictions on visitors entering the farm’s paddocks and moving the mobile chicken coops closer together.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Guardian dogs are also being used to keep wild birds away. (ABC News: Sandy Powell)<\/p>\n

But on a free-range farm, there’s only so much that can be done.<\/p>\n

“So really from here, it’s just being really vigilant and watching and waiting and hoping that we don’t succumb.”Major poultry event called off\"White<\/p>\n

Exhibitors were expected to bring thousands of birds to the Hobart event, which has been cancelled. (ABC News: Jonny McNee)<\/p>\n

The detection of bird flu has prompted the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania to cancel one of its upcoming events<\/p>\n

The Royal Hobart Poultry and Pigeon Show, scheduled for August 22, was expected to feature more than 1,000 birds.<\/p>\n

But the event will no longer go ahead.<\/p>\n

“The risks to our exhibitors, their prized birds and the broader animal population are considered too high under the current circumstances,” RAST chief executive Scott Gadd said.<\/p>\n

“We are extremely disappointed to have to make this decision.<\/p>\n

“This was shaping up to be the biggest Royal Hobart Poultry and Pigeon Show we have held in many years, with entries from Tasmania’s north-west coast for the first time in many years.”<\/p>\n

\"Chickens<\/p>\n

Serious and amateur poultry enthusiasts have been affected by the news. (ABC News)<\/p>\n

Mr Gadd said competitors had spent countless hours preparing and caring for their birds, but a precautionary approach was needed.<\/p>\n

“Given the current detection of avian influenza in the state and the movement of birds that would be required for the event, we believe cancellation is the responsible decision,” he said.<\/p>\n

“Our priority must be to minimise the potential for disease transmission and protect the health and welfare of the birds involved, as well as the broader Tasmanian poultry and animal industries.”\"White<\/p>\n

Mark Robertson with some of his cherished birds. (ABC News: Jonny McNee)<\/p>\n

Speaking to the Tasmanian Country Hour prior to the cancellation, heritage bird breeder Mark Robertson said he was concerned about the future impact of bird flu.<\/p>\n

“It’s [a] concern for the hobby,” Mr Robertson said.<\/p>\n

“What would happen if, for the next four years, we don’t have poultry shows?<\/p>\n

“I’m probably one of the younger poultry exhibitors getting around.<\/p>\n

“[But] what happens to that older generation who’ve been exhibiting their whole life, have a break \u2014 do they come back?<\/p>\n

“We’ve seen things like that happen with COVID.”<\/p>\n

Wildlife sanctuary bracing for impact\"A<\/p>\n

George, the cockatoo, with Raphael, the musk lorikeet, at Bonorong sanctuary. (ABC News: Jake Grant)<\/p>\n

The Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary<\/a> near Hobart has been preparing for the arrival of bird flu for the past three years.<\/p>\n

“It’s devastating to hear that it’s finally here,” chief executive Matt Clement said.<\/p>\n

“But we are well prepared and we are working closely with other agencies and government to mount an effective response.”<\/p>\n

The sanctuary is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and preservation of native animals.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

One of the biggest unknowns is how the virus will affect the endangered Tasmanian devil. (ABC News: David Robertson)<\/p>\n

Mr Clement said a range of biosecurity protocols were in place to reduce the risk of the virus spreading to the facility, including a zoning system to limit movement between different areas.<\/p>\n

“So one way of us preventing the spread of infection is to really control the movement of people and equipment, and for that matter, other animals that come and go as the day goes on.<\/p>\n

“So that compartmentalisation of our operations has been really important.<\/p>\n

“And the moment we received notice [on Thursday] that there’d been a detection in the north-west of Tassie, we immediately implemented our zoning protocols.”<\/p>\n

\"Wombat<\/p>\n

Tasmania’s wombats are also potentially at risk from the disease. (Supplied: Beatrice Thurston-Regan)<\/p>\n

While Mr Clement is confident about the protection measures in place for resident animals at the sanctuary, he is concerned about how the potential spread of the virus could affect Bonorong’s animal rescue service.<\/p>\n

“We receive around 20,000 calls for assistance every year, and I am absolutely focused on keeping that service running despite the background risk associated with this terrible disease.”<\/p>\n

He said volunteer rescuers were aware of the need to follow government guidelines, including avoiding contact with sick wildlife and referring suspicious cases to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline.<\/p>\n

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