Bird flu kills thousands of baby seals on remote Australian island

Bird flu has killed over 13,000 baby southern elephant seals on Heard Island, researchers reported on June 18, 2026. The H5 strain was first detected last year, and mortality rates reached more than 75 percent among the seal pups. The findings raise concerns about potential catastrophic impacts on wildlife if the virus spreads further.

Summary by OZbrief · ABC News – Australia