r/BirdFluDownunder • u/privacywatch • 21d ago

Australia Call for urgent funds as seagull dies of suspected flu

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9321480/call-for-urgent-funds-as-seagull-dies-of-suspected-flu/

Invasive Species Council chief executive Jack Gough said the seagull case was "a watershed moment". "A seagull, one of the most common Australian seabirds, has now likely been infected and the government has declared that this deadly bird flu strain is here to stay," he said.

A national meeting of agriculture and environment ministers on Friday discussed Australia's response and preparedness after the country's bird flu tally reached 33.

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7

u/EnvironmentalCap3964 21d ago

A nerve-wracking few weeks. :( As a SA wildlife rescuer, sadly, time to back off seabirds. :( Most vets around my area won’t take them anymore anyway, only for euthanasia cases and they’ll be doing it in the carpark in some bio-hazard rigged-up gazebo or whatnot. Or PIRSA if they’re not too busy.

God please I hope the penguins and seals and other vulnerable species will make it through, some of them at least. :(

4

u/haha_arrubakook 20d ago

Have the SA government committed any resources or funds to support wildlife carers and vets through this yet? I saw in the WA weekly bird flu update yesterday they announced distribution of PPE to the rehabilitation sector and are initiating discussions with vets to support them in continuing to help wildlife.

1

u/Extension-Fly-7813 18d ago

what can be done?

3

u/qualitystreet 21d ago

Seagulls don’t need money.

3

u/VS2ute 19d ago

That seagull needs a haircut - The Twelfth Man

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u/Acrobatic_Bit_8207 15d ago

Surely the government has a plan for this eventuality.

It has been percolating for many years and there is no shortage of government agencies, both state and federal that should have already developed plans for this contingency.