Victoria is preparing to vaccinate more than 5,000 little penguins against H5 bird flu, with doses arriving at Phillip Island ahead of a planned rollout next week, subject to final regulatory approvals.
The vaccination program will target little penguin colonies at Phillip Island and St Kilda and is expected to become one of the largest vaccination efforts involving wild birds anywhere in the world.
The rollout follows the Commonwealth Government’s announcement that vaccines would be made available as part of Australia’s response to the spread of H5 bird flu in wild bird populations.
Wild bird vaccination presents practical challenges because each penguin must be caught twice to receive the required two-dose course. Conservation managers say little penguins are well suited to this approach because they typically return to the same colonies and burrows, allowing researchers to monitor vaccinated birds over time.
Authorities say the vaccine is intended to reduce the impact of the disease on vulnerable bird populations rather than eliminate the virus from the wild. The vaccination program will operate alongside existing biosecurity measures, surveillance and wildlife response programs.
The broader Victorian rollout will also prioritise vulnerable captive populations, including birds held in zoos and other managed facilities.
H5 bird flu has been detected in wild birds across several parts of Victoria, including Phillip Island, Mildura, Warrnambool, Hamilton, St Andrews Beach and Hawkesdale. Most detections have been in greater crested terns.
There have been no recorded cases of H5 bird flu in little penguins in Victoria or elsewhere in Australia.
Environment Minister Jaclyn Symes said vaccination was a practical measure that could help protect vulnerable wildlife species while broader surveillance and biosecurity efforts continued.
Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the Commonwealth was working with states and territories to strengthen preparedness for H5 bird flu, with national funding directed towards surveillance, response measures and vaccine development.
Phillip Island Nature Parks chief executive Catherine Basterfield said the program was expected to provide valuable information about wildlife disease management and could contribute to future conservation efforts in Australia and overseas.
Phillip Island Nature Parks has invested heavily in penguin habitat protection in recent years, while the Victorian Government says it has committed more than $130 million to biosecurity measures as authorities continue monitoring the spread of H5 bird flu across the state.
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