Researchers warned that it is one of ‘largest ecological disasters of modern times’ if Avian flu, the highly contagious disease reaches penguin colonies in the Antarctic.

The virus was first reported among brown skua on Bird Island, off South Georgia. Since then, researchers and observers have reported mass deaths of elephant seals, as well as increased deaths of fur seals, kelp gulls and brown skua at several other sites.  

Observers in the Antarctic region have reported elephant seals displaying avian flu symptoms including coughing, mucus accumulations around their noses and breathing difficulties. Birds with avian flu suffer from spasms, lethargy and inability to fly. The virus has already killed over 500,000 seabirds and over 20,000 sea lions in Chile and Peru.  

Moreover, more than 1300 young elephant seals have died due to bird flu in Argentina, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) reported. This is the first time the bird flu virus has caused mass fatalities among seals in the country. Laboratory tests confirmed that the baby elephant seals fell victim to the H5N1 bird flu virus. The virus has also affected seagulls and various other birds.