More than 5,000 little penguins will be vaxxed against bird flu. How will this protect them?

Key Points:

• Victoria is undertaking the world's largest vaccination program targeting wild birds, aiming to catch and vaccinate over 5,000 little penguins at Phillip Island and St Kilda against the H5N1 bird flu, following the death of one penguin from the virus.
• Little penguins are vulnerable due to their colony living habits and the highly infectious nature of H5N1, but their flightlessness and predictable burrow returns make vaccination feasible despite the challenge of requiring two doses.
• Bird flu symptoms in affected birds include lethargy, unusual posture, and sudden death, with little penguins already facing additional pressures from predators, human activity, and climate change impacts like warming oceans.
• Similar vaccination efforts are underway in New Zealand for endangered captive bird species, while Australian zoos are vaccinating threatened native birds, supported by recent federal approval of H5N1 vaccines for priority native species.
• Although vaccines may not prevent all infections and cannot cover every penguin, they are critical in mitigating bird flu's impact on wildlife, with ongoing virus evolution and climate change necessitating future vaccine development.