Researchers from the Antarctic Wildlife Health Network (AWHN) first detected avian influenza, caused by a circulating subtype H5N1 of the virus, in the wider Antarctic region, back in October 2023.
Now researchers say millions of seabirds (including the Adelie Penguins in Antarctica) and thousands of pinnipeds have died globally due to the disease.
Many seabird colonies have experienced significant loses with up to 50-60% mortality rates (e.g. Great Skua and Gannets). According to the AWHN, Oceania (Australia, New Zealand) and Antarctica were the only continents free of the disease until the 23 October 2023, when the first case was confirmed via tests on Bird Island, in the sub-Antarctic.
The African Penguin
African Penguins are not immune to the flu, according to Dr Alistair McInnes, Seabird Conservation Programme Manager at BirdLife South Africa.
Speaking at BirdLife’s Conservation Conversations, Dr McInnes said African Penguins could be uplisted on the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) Red data list to Critically Endangered from their current status of Endangered.
This is literally a step away from going extinct in the wild.
Over the last 30 years, the number of African penguins breeding in South Africa has declined by 73% from an estimated 42,700 breeding pairs in 1999 to just 8,500 pairs in 2023.
McInnes said there is fierce competition for their preferred diet- schools of sardines and anchovy.
In fact, results of an experiment using a tank with and without a penguin, illustrated to McInnes and his colleagues that Penguins are dependent on the abundance of anchovy and sardines.
Fish are decreasing, due to natural processes such as upwelling. This is when cold water with no oxygen from the ocean, rises to the surface.
The regulation of breeding colonies is another major concern and has led to legal steps to force the Minister to consider the proposed areas by bird researchers .
In 2019, BirdLife presented a case of why certain colonies are better for Penguins. The Minister established a panel to review the proposal and implemented findings of another report by a panel of International experts.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment closed some areas to commercial fishing for anchovy and sardine, for the next 10 years.
The Department said in a statement back in September 2022, restrictions followed prolonged negotiations with seabird conservation groups and the pelagic fishing industry representatives.
But Kate Handley, Executive Director of the Biodiversity Law Centre, a non profit organisation, said the main concern about breeding colonies closed by the Minister, is that they are unlikely to reduce extinctions.
She said the point of closures was to provide credible, important recovery, and to also provide a review of harvest catches to sardines and anchovy. The subject is now a legal matter.
African penguins are located in large colonies along the southwestern coast of Africa from Namibia to Port Elizabeth.
The largest colony is located on Dyer Island.
An illustration of areas of concern, by Dr McInnes.
Picture of Penguins: Shutterstock files