Building resilience in Tasmania's unique wildlife against the threat of H5 avian influenza (bird flu) continues, with wildlife experts beginning vaccination of the Shy Albatross in Tasmania.
The Shy Albatross is a threatened species and is unique to Tasmania, breeding exclusively on just three remote offshore islands.
The species is considered highly vulnerable to H5 bird flu under state and national risk assessments, however no signs of the disease have been observed in breeding colonies to date.
Up to 100 birds on Albatross Island, a small, exposed island in western Bass Strait, will be vaccinated, an ambitious target that will depend on weather, access conditions and the ability to safely administer two vaccine doses while minimising disturbance to breeding birds.
The proposal went through a rigorous assessment phase, including approvals from the state Animal Ethics Committee, and vaccination is carried out by wildlife veterinarians and biologists under strict permit conditions and biosecurity protocols.
Department seabird biologists will closely monitor the birds via remote cameras and follow-up visits to see how the birds respond to vaccination.
Species-specific guidance has been developed to support government planning and response actions to bird flu.
This guidance is available on the Department of Natural Resources and Environment website https://nre.tas.gov.au/wildlife-management/wildlife-health-in-tasmania/bird-flu-and-wildlife
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins:
"Protecting Australia from H5 bird flu requires a coordinated approach across agriculture, environment and wildlife sectors. The shy albatross is one of Tasmania's most distinctive and threatened seabirds, and this effort will help build knowledge of how best to help protect vulnerable wildlife from the threat of H5 bird flu," Minister Collins said.
"Since 2024, the Albanese Labor Government has undertaken a significant amount of work to prepare for the use of vaccinations to help protect some of Australia's most vulnerable native birds from H5 bird flu, backed by an investment of almost $2 million."
Quotes attributable to the Tasmanian Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Guy Barnett:
This is the first known attempt anywhere in the world to vaccinate albatrosses against H5 bird flu," Minister Barnett said.
"This is a unique opportunity because these birds can be safely approached while nesting, allowing us to provide the required two doses of vaccine for each bird over a three-to-four-week period and monitor individual birds in a way that's not possible for many wild species."
