The Australian Government has invested $3.4 million in threat mitigation efforts across Western Australia (WA) to help prepare native species most at risk from H5 bird flu.
H5 bird flu has been detected in Australia, including in WA seabirds.
Preparedness projects that commenced before the disease reached Australia, are giving native species the best chance of withstanding and recovering from the potential impacts.
Projects underway across WA include:
- Boosting Australian sea lion pup health on WA islands. This includes building 16 pup shelters and testing a hookworm vaccine. To date, 15 pups have been tested, with no signs of hookworm.
- Preparing Eighty Mile Beach and Roebuck Bay. New signs, fencing and monitoring will help protect migratory shorebirds from being disturbed.
- Removing invasive mice and rats from important islands. This will help protect seabirds and shorebirds from predators. Rats and house mice prey on the eggs and chicks of shearwater and tern species, including the small white-faced storm petrel. This will also reduce the risk of disease spreading.
- Protecting the critically endangered western ground parrot by controlling feral animals. Fifteen feral cats have already been removed from areas where the parrots live.
These projects are being led by the WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
They aim to reduce existing threats to native species and their habitats.
This work will strengthen wildlife populations as Australia responds to H5 bird flu. It will also deliver long-term conservation benefits.
The Australian Government has committed more than $113 million to prepare for H5 bird flu, including $47.1 million for environmental measures.
Other investments underway in WA include:
- $400,000 to support species and site preparedness planning
- More than $700,000 to boost biosecurity for threatened species at 3 wildlife facilities. This will protect species like the greater bilby, western ground parrot and Baudin's and Carnaby's cockatoos.
