More than 50,000 seals killed by bird flu - scientists sound the alarm

According to the study, the H5N1 virus has already killed:

• at least 36,000 sea lions
• about 17,400 southern elephant seals
• more than 1,000 harbour seals

Outbreaks have been recorded along the coasts of Peru, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.

Scientists say marine mammals have been particularly vulnerable to the virus, which initially spread to birds.

"This is a huge, unprecedented risk to species conservation," said study author Christine Johnson.

Details

The mass die-off of southern sea elephants in 2023 was a particularly alarming signal.

"They became a sort of canary in the mine, warning of a more serious problem," the researchers noted.

Later, cases of infestations began to be recorded in other regions, including the US.

Why it matters

Scientists emphasise that the virus continues to change and expands the range of animals it can affect.

This creates several risks at once:

• mass mortality of marine species
• threats to rare and vulnerable populations
• possible further spread

Of particular concern are species that have not yet been affected by the virus, such as the Hawaiian monk seal or the sea lions of the Galapagos.

The study shows that there is a need to:

• increase wildlife surveillance
• detect outbreaks more quickly
• improve coordination between countries and scientists

Experts also urge to keep in mind that bird flu is only one of the threats. Marine animals are already facing climate change, food shortages and habitat loss.

Background

The H5N1 virus was first discovered in 1996 and has since spread almost worldwide.

Source

The new study is published in the journal Philosophical Transactions B and focuses on the impact of the virus on marine mammals.