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The Antarctic is witnessing a stunning ecological tragedy because the lethal H5N1 chicken flu virus claims its first penguin victim. Researchers are on excessive alert after a king penguin, the world’s second-largest penguin species, was suspected to have succumbed to this extremely contagious virus on South Georgia island within the Antarctic area. This alarming improvement may sign “one of the largest ecological disasters of modern times,” particularly in the course of the breeding season when penguins cluster collectively, probably permitting the virus to decimate whole colonies.
Source: Down To Earth/YouTube
This isn’t an remoted case. A gentoo penguin on the identical island and greater than 20 chicks on the Falkland Islands, 900 miles west, are additionally believed to have fallen sufferer to H5N1. The virus’s attain isn’t restricted to penguins; it’s inflicting widespread fatalities amongst different Antarctic wildlife, together with elephant seals, fur seals, kelp gulls, and brown skuas.
The gravity of the scenario is underlined by the truth that chicken flu has already wreaked havoc in South America, resulting in over 500,000 seabird deaths, together with penguins, pelicans, and boobies. Scientists like Ed Hutchinson from the MRC-University of Glasgow and Diana Bell from the University of East Anglia have expressed their deep considerations, citing the virus’s potential to quickly unfold by way of densely populated penguin colonies.
The scenario is worsened by the truth that there are few folks in these distant areas to watch and report on the unfold of the illness. Adding to the ecological strain is the specter of local weather change and overfishing, that are already pushing king penguins in direction of extinction.
The Antarctic isn’t the one area beneath siege. The Arctic too is experiencing the lethal influence of H5N1, with a polar bear confirmed to have died from the virus in December. These incidents are a stark reminder of how interconnected our international ecosystems are and the necessity for fast motion to deal with these rising wildlife well being crises.
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