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animals · animal diseaseScale 4/5situation is worsening

H5N1 bird flu in the Southern Ocean - elephant seal die-off on Heard Island

Southern Ocean, sub-Antarctic islands (Heard Island, South Georgia, Macquarie)since October 2023

Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b) reached the Antarctic region from South America with migrating wildlife. The first case was confirmed on 23 October 2023 on Bird Island (South Georgia) in brown skuas; the virus was later found in elephant seals and fur seals on South Georgia and in birds on the Falkland Islands.

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The virus reached Heard Island around August 2025. Australian Antarctic Program voyages in October 2025 and January 2026 confirmed H5N1 in six species; elephant seal pup mortality averaged 76 percent (97 percent in one area), about 13,000 of roughly 17,000 pups, and several hundred adult king penguins also died. In April 2026 the IUCN moved the southern elephant seal from Least Concern to Vulnerable because the disease has hit four of five major populations. On South Georgia the virus remained present at low to moderate levels in the 2025/26 season. In August 2026 Australia decided to temporarily withdraw 24 people from Macquarie Island station, where experts expect a significant die-off in the coming breeding season.

Numbers with sources

ValueAs ofSource
Animals affected13,000June 2026antarctica.gov.au

Species

SpeciesIUCN statusPopulationSource
Mirounga leonina Mirounga leoninavulnerable (IUCN VU) (2026)antarctica.gov.au
Arctocephalus gazella Arctocephalus gazellaendangered (IUCN EN) (2026)iucn.org

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Sources

Seed record, before editorial verification. Every number links to its source; report errors on the Corrections page. Methodology · Corrections

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