Elephant seal hit by dart! Sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island first outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza, two major breeding grounds destroyed

Macquarie Island is an important habitat for southern elephant seals. (European News Agency file photo)

The Australian government confirmed on the 17th that H5N1 avian influenza was present for the first time on Macquarie Island, a remote island near Antarctica. The highly pathogenic virus was detected in southern elephant seals on the island. The island is an important breeding ground for seals. The breeding season is approaching, and authorities are worried that bird flu may cause a large number of seal deaths.

"Reuters" reported on the 17th that Australia's chief veterinary officer, Beth Cookson, said that official tests confirmed that the H5N1 virus strain was detected in an elephant seal and kelp gull on Macquarie Island, "the first time H5 avian influenza has appeared on this island."

Macquarie Island is located in the Southern Ocean, between Tasmania, Australia, and Antarctica. It belongs to the sub-Antarctic region and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Macquarie Island and Heard Island, another subantarctic territory in Australia, are important breeding grounds for southern elephant seals.

The southern elephant seal is a type of elephant seal, and the other is the northern elephant seal, which is mainly found in the North Pacific. According to Australian federal government data, southern elephant seals can weigh up to 3,600 kilograms and are particularly susceptible to H5 avian influenza viruses. In some cases, the mortality rate of young seals exceeds 90%.

After Australia reported its first local case of H5N1 avian influenza in June this year, no one on every continent in the world has been spared. However, according to local media reports in Australia, the H5N1 virus appeared on Heard Island at the end of 2025, killing more than 13,000 seal pups at that time.

The Australian Department of Environment said in August that experts assessed that an H5 avian influenza outbreak on Macquarie Island would likely cause a large number of deaths of southern elephant seals during the breeding season. In addition, considering the psychological and social risks to the expedition team, personnel at the research station on the island will be evacuated at that time.

Gentoo penguins on subantarctic Macquarie Island. (AFP file photo)