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Each year, Dunedin Wildlife Hospital veterinary team hand rears dozens of hoiho chicks. Photo: Supplied <\/p>\nThe arrival of the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 on New Zealand\u2019s shores means increased vigilance for the team at Dunedin Wildlife Hospital, although it remains business as usual.<\/p>\n
Wildlife Hospital general manager Suzanne Stephenson said the hospital had robust quarantine and infection control procedures in place and would implement these whenever required to protect patients, staff and native wildlife.<\/p>\n
As of Tuesday, \u00a0two cases of H5 bird flu\u00a0have been detected in the North Island, leading to increased biosecurity concerns across the country about wild and domestic birds, as well as the potential for it to\u00a0spread\u00a0to sea lions and seals.<\/p>\n
There has been no detection in poultry\u00a0and at this stage there is no evidence of any mass mortality in wildlife.<\/p>\n
Ms Stephenson said people who contacted the Wildlife Hospital about a sick or injured bird would be asked more questions than usual, to help determine the safest way to proceed.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, our key message to the public is to keep reporting sightings of sick or grounded birds to us as normal,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease don\u2019t panic or leave sick or injured wildlife without help.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, people should not touch sick birds,\u00a0keep pets away from the area and practise good hygiene.<\/p>\n
Anyone who encounters three or more sick or dead wild birds in the same location, or suspects avian influenza, are urged to use GPS on their phone to track the location and report them to the Biosecurity New Zealand\u00a0exotic pest and disease hotline 0800 80 99\u00a066.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Otago Regional Council has a preparedness plan which will activate if a case is detected in the region.<\/p>\n
The plan also supports councils across the region to prepare for and respond to occurrences of H5 bird flu.<\/p>\n
Council portfolio lead Cr Andrew Noone \u00a0said\u00a0\u201cwe have had some time to think about the best way to prepare for this, but this doesn\u2019t mean bird flu arriving in Otago won\u2019t be concerning for us all, especially as it may significantly impact upon our native species\u00a0and on the poultry industry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe couldn\u2019t prevent wild birds from bringing this virus here, but we can work together to limit its impact,\u201d Cr Noone said.<\/p>\n
Ms Stephenson, who took over as Dunedin Wildlife Hospital general manager in January,\u00a0said the arrival of the H5\u00a0bird flu in New Zealand had come\u00a0after a very busy summer season for the hospital, which cares for an average of 650 birds and animals each year.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor someone like myself, who did not previously have a lot of understanding of New Zealand\u2019s many native species, it has been fascinating,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The year began with Wildlife Hospital staff being joined by veterinarians from across New Zealand and Australia to help hand rear dozens of hoiho (yellow-eyed penguin) and\u00a0 k\u0101k\u0101p\u014d chicks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese wonderful people are so dedicated that the are giving up their annual leave and paying for their own flights to comed to Dunedin and help.<\/p>\n
\u201cWatching them feeding all of those tiny chicks is amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Each year, Dunedin Wildlife Hospital veterinary team hand rears dozens of hoiho chicks. Photo: Supplied <\/p>\n
On any given day, the expert team, led by wildlife veterinarian Dr Lisa Argilla,\u00a0could swing into action to\u00a0care for an extraordinary range of species.<\/p>\n
A star patient\u00a0at the hospital in recent months had been an injured k\u0101rearea \u2014 New Zealand falcon, which had suffered damage to his eye and needed months of care.<\/p>\n
Named \u201cMcGregor\u201d by popular vote, the k\u0101rearea was now settled in the care of the K\u0101rearea Falcon Trust in Marlborough, where it was hoped he would join the breeding programme.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/copy-of-star23wildhospbirds4-jpg.webp\")
A hoiho-Yellow eyed penguin swims in the rehabilitation pool at the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital. Photo: Supplied <\/p>\n
What to do about H5 bird flu<\/p>\n
H5\u00a0bird flu\u00a0is a highly contagious viral disease that can affect many species of wild birds, particularly seabirds, waterbirds, shorebirds and raptors as well as marine mammals (seals and sea lions).<\/p>\n
If you find three or more sick or dead birds or mammals, do not touch or handle them and keep children and pets away from the area.<\/p>\n
If it is safe to do so, note the location (GPS if feasible) and\u00a0if possible, take photographs of sick wildlife from a distance.<\/p>\n
Report unusual illness or multiple sick or dead birds\/marine mammals to Biosecurity New Zealand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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