Australia to vaccinate over 5,000 little penguins amid H5 bird flu outbreak

More than 5,000 little penguins in Victoria will be vaccinated against H5 bird flu starting next week. The Victorian government has invested nearly $2 million for vaccines, with 1,500 vials secured.

Little penguins, also called fairy penguins, will receive two doses, requiring wildlife workers to catch each bird twice. The vaccination program targets colonies that regularly return to their burrows, allowing for monitoring and administration.

While the H5 bird flu is spreading among wild birds in Victoria, no cases have been detected in little penguins. Environment Minister Jaclyn Symes emphasized that vaccination helps protect vulnerable species but won't stop the virus in the wild.