A devastating bird flu outbreak has wiped out much of the southern elephant seal pup population on Australia's remote Heard Island, according to new research. Scientists estimate that more than 13,000 pups died from the H5N1 virus, representing over 75% of the colony. The study also recorded elevated deaths among king and gentoo penguins, raising concerns about the virus's impact on fragile sub-Antarctic ecosystems. Researchers believe migrating birds introduced the disease to the islands in 2025. The findings highlight the growing global spread of bird flu and the risks it poses to wildlife populations in some of the world's most isolated regions.
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