The concern is that H5N1 could devastate vulnerable penguin species and other wildlife in Antarctica. Since its arrival in South America in 2022, the virus has spread rapidly, reaching Antarctica in February.
Meagan Dewar, a wildlife biologist on the expedition, highlighted the potential impact on wildlife already facing threats from climate change. Frozen solid in sub-zero temperatures and covered in snow, the dead penguins were found on Heroina Island, with estimates suggesting thousands may have died.
Although the live penguins had already moved on, the expedition found evidence of H5 strain bird flu in skua seabirds, which prey on penguin eggs and chicks. With about 20 million pairs of penguins breeding in Antarctica annually, including endangered emperor penguins, there are fears that bird flu could further endanger these species.
The declining sea ice, a result of climate change, already poses a threat to emperor penguins, as evidenced by the drowning of thousands of chicks in 2022. Now, with the potential spread of bird flu, emperor penguins could face additional challenges in the coming spring.
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