Australia will vaccinate its most vulnerable native birds against bird flu

Australia's native birds are found almost nowhere else on Earth — about 45 per cent of its roughly 850 species exist only there — so when H5N1 bird flu reached the country, conservation teams moved to protect the species that could least afford losses. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins confirmed the government will begin vaccinating vulnerable native birds in the coming days and weeks, starting with priority species in captivity chosen for their vulnerability and conservation importance. 'We cannot stop the H5 bird flu from spreading amongst wild birds, but we can take action to protect the species most at risk,' Collins said in Canberra. The move follows neighbouring New Zealand, which began vaccinating 300 core breeding birds from five of its most endangered species in July — a head start Australia is now building on.

SDG 15 · Life on land — Mechanism: institutional program