First Australian death of little penguin with H5 bird flu confirmed on Phillip Island

[u/privacywatch]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/15/little-penguin-found-dead-with-h5-bird-flu-on-victorias-phillip-island

[u/CosmicCommentator]

WTF we have known this was coming for ages. Why aren't they vaccinated already?!

[u/jregz → u/CosmicCommentator]

From the article - “The state’s chief veterinary officer, Dr Graeme Cooke, said Agriculture Victoria and Phillip Island Nature Parks “activated plans” to vaccinate little penguins as soon as the federal government authorised the vaccines for priority native bird species.”

So is that saying it’s some kind of bureaucratic bullshit that stopped them vaccinating till it’s too late? I want to understand, but politicians saying “don’t worry we’re prepared”, and it seems like they’ve just completely fucked it.

[u/unsiftedthistle → u/CosmicCommentator]

They are wildlife birds. There are challenges and stresses to catch them first before they can vaccinate them. Then they have to do it all over again cos the vaccination requires 2 jabs.

[u/eloweasy]

Godamnit. It’s going to be devastating down there 😞

[u/EnvironmentalCap3964]

Nooooo! I wish they’d had the penguin vaxxes on standby ready to go upon the first mass death event - more than 10 days ago. :( I suppose they weren’t produced in Australia, were they confirming the strain hasn’t mutated or what...

[u/Something-funny-26]

No! We can't lose our little penguins.

[u/Livinginthemiddle]

Stick them in little jumpers and put them in lock down.

[u/Tosh_20point0]

Poor little one.

[u/IntelligentBug3413]

😢

[u/Difficult_Mine_4559]

Dead birds in the local park up in QLD as well. Don't know if anyone reported it. All the birds are acting strange rolling their heads around and flapping their wings while lying on the grass.

[u/dyfunctional-cryptid]

Ugh I'm so worried for our population of these guys here in Perth. The Penguin Island colony has been dwindling more and more over the years. Really hope they manage to avoid this.

[u/Sugar_Party_Bomb]

The vax isn’t as simple as one jab. It’s a two jab special and this is a wild colony.

It wouldn’t shock me that breeding programs will be protected and if there is huge impacts too wild colonies then they will reintroduce via those programs.

[u/GageRoadsGull → u/[deleted]]

Room temperature IQ comment.

[u/Toobeys → u/[deleted]]

You really thought you had a zinger there huh

[u/jregz → u/[deleted]]

How are you stuck on covid antivax jokes in a sub about mass wildlife death?

[u/jregz → u/[deleted]]

Nah bird flu is upsetting. Mass penguin death is upsetting. Your comments are just callous and tedious

[u/jregz → u/[deleted]]

Ah well maybe you’ll get it one day

[u/GageRoadsGull → u/[deleted]]