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

The Guardian Australia·August 24, 2026 at 3:00 PM+1

theguardian.com

Virus has already caused catastrophic losses in seals in South America and sub-Antarctica, particularly among pups Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Scientists have warned deadly H5 bird flu could cause “carnage” for Australia’s seal and sea lion populations after detection of the virus in long-nosed fur seals in South Australia. SA confirmed Australia’s first case in a mainland mammal on Saturday after a dead long-nosed fur seal found at Beachport on the Limestone Coast tested positive for H5N1. Continue reading...

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

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

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