'List of doom' outlines birds facing extinction if deadly flu spreads

Australia is on high alert as officials worry about a potential catastrophic decline in bird and mammal populations should bird flu spread among them. The federal government has compiled a comprehensive ranking, listing over 2,000 native birds and animals based on their vulnerability and susceptibility to the H5 strain of bird flu.

Of these, five species are deemed to face "extreme risk," potential extinction, while hundreds more are expected to suffer severe population reductions. The list includes critically endangered species such as the Herald petrel, endangered Christmas Island frigate, Houtman Abrolhos lesser noddy, imperial shag, and Heard shag. Endangered Tasmanian devil and eastern quolls are among the most at-risk mammals, likely to survive the virus but with their populations significantly minimized.

The initial outbreak of bird flu was confirmed on an island off South Australia's coast, with epidemiologist Raina MacIntyre stating the virus mutated into a highly concerning form. The virus, which emerged in 2020, has rapidly spread and decimated wildlife populations in other countries. Jack Gough, CEO of the Invasive Species Council, described the list as "devastating," emphasizing the need for an "emergency" $200 million investment into wildlife resilience, apart from the biosecurity response.

State governments had already completed the groundwork for wildlife protection projects, but the funding had regressed. Professor MacIntyre highlighted the lack of information regarding the susceptibility of Australian marsupials and monotremes to bird flu, stressing the unique nature of these species. Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt warned that bird flu could likely spread inland after months of coastal detections and cautioned that the spring breeding season would exacerbate the situation.

He confirmed that the government had invested $47 million in enhancing the populations of threatened species through invasive species removal, but the current efforts might not suffice if bird flu reaches the country.