Australia reports bird flu has killed 13.000 elephant seal pups in Heard and McDonald islands
Key takeaways
- The pathogenic strain of bird flu, H5N1 has killed more than 13,000 elephant seal pups after infecting a breeding colony on a sub-Antarctic volcanic island, Australian scientists from the Antarctic Program discovered.
- Australian researchers found the remote Heard and Mc Donald Islands littered with seal carcasses when they arrived on a research expedition in October 2025.
- Genetic testing confirmed the contagious H5 bird flu strain had killed seals, penguins and birds living on the rocky outcrop -- the first time it had been detected in one of Australia's external territories.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
The pathogenic strain of bird flu, H5N1 has killed more than 13,000 elephant seal pups after infecting a breeding colony on a sub-Antarctic volcanic island, Australian scientists from the Antarctic Program discovered.
Australian researchers found the remote Heard and Mc Donald Islands littered with seal carcasses when they arrived on a research expedition in October 2025. Access to these tiny islands is allowed only with permission from the Australian government.
Genetic testing confirmed the contagious H5 bird flu strain had killed seals, penguins and birds living on the rocky outcrop -- the first time it had been detected in one of Australia's external territories.