Australia has just 12,000 sea lions left – and ‘carnage’ may await them as bird flu takes hold, scientists warn

Australia's sea lion population is dwindling, with only 12,000 remaining. Scientists have raised concerns that a deadly bird flu, H5N1, could cause significant harm to the country's seal and sea lion populations. According to The Guardian, the virus has already been detected in long-nosed fur seals in South Australia, with the first case in a mammal confirmed on Saturday.

The H5N1 virus has caused substantial losses among pinnipeds in South America and sub-Antarctica, particularly among pups, as reported by The Guardian. This has led scientists to warn of potential "carnage" for Australia's sea lion and seal populations.

Australia is home to a diverse range of marine species, with ocean ecosystems spanning multiple climate zones. However, despite being a leader in marine conservation, the country's marine biodiversity is under increasing pressure, with many species and ecosystems experiencing substantial declines.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Guardian, Phys.org — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.