“I only realised what it was as I got closer,” he told Yahoo News.<\/p>\n
Lying on the sand was the broken body of a dead pelican.<\/a><\/p>\n “It was confronting\u2026 I’ve never seen a dead one before,” he said.<\/p>\n Ordinarily, it would have been a sad find, but the confirmation that H5 bird flu has arrived in Australia added a sinister tone.<\/a><\/p>\n Do you have a story about bird flu? Contact newsroomau@yahoonews.com<\/a><\/p>\n The pelican was reported to the government’s disease hotline.<\/p>\n (David Parker)Why concern around a dead pelican is heightened<\/p>\n To date, the virus hasn’t been detected in Australian pelicans, but overnight, the federal government released its risk assessment list<\/a> and revealed it poses a “very high” risk to the species.<\/p>\n Overseas, the disease has been catastrophic for pelicans, with around 40 per cent dying in Peru alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n In Australia, the virus has resulted in mass die-offs of greater crested terns, and it’s also spread to seagulls.<\/p>\n The pelican in Fremantle was confirmed to have been reported to authorities for testing via the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.<\/p>\n Disease with similar symptoms to bird flu<\/p>\n For now, what killed the pelican remains unknown. But there have been several mortalities elsewhere in the state from botulism,<\/a> a soil-borne illness caused by a bacterium that’s been more prevalent than usual due to unseasonably hot weather.<\/p>\n Distinguishing between the two illnesses can be challenging, as both can cause similar neurological symptoms in birds, including an inability to stand and difficulty holding their heads up.<\/p>\n It’s the first time David Parker has seen a dead pelican.<\/p>\n (David Parker)Public helping to detect bird flu<\/p>\n Sources indicate that the pelican has been tested and removed from the beach, but the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) will not comment on suspected cases.<\/p>\n RELATED:<\/p>\n In a statement, it said reports from the public are helping it respond to the virus threat.<\/p>\n “It is important to include the exact location and detailed observations \u2014 if you are unaware if it has previously been reported, please make a report,” a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n “These reports are triaged by DPIRD based on the risk of H5 bird flu and are prioritised for further investigation or testing.”<\/p>\n You can also follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a> and YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/https:\/\/d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net\/images\/user-uploaded\/sad_5159.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/https:\/\/d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net\/images\/user-uploaded\/img-9126_9328.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n