Bird flu is killing seal pups
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (386902)
Rockingham, Australia
June 19, 2026 12:55am CST
Back in March, I wrote about a penguin that washed up on our south coast. I mentioned Heard Island and said that bird flu had been detected there although all swabs taken were negative.
However, the news today is that an estimated 13,000 southern elephant seal pups have died because of the virus. This is not good news. That’s a lot of seal pups to lose. Experts are warning that there could be a devastating impact on wildlife if the disease spreads to the mainland.
The photo is of Thistle Cove in Esperance. I need to scan a photo of Sammy the seal who made himself at home in Esperance when we lived there.
17 people like this
18 responses
@rsa101 (41768)
• Philippines
19 Jun
It’s always sad when a disease outbreak hits certain species and wipes out their population. A simple virus can be devastating, especially when it mutates and jumps to other species. That’s how COVID became such a menace worldwide—it mutated to infect humans, which made it spread rapidly.
2 people like this
@rsa101 (41768)
• Philippines
22 Jun
@JudyEv I think’s a difficult process, especially when the species spreading it can travel far and wide. Even swine flu is hard to eradicate in our area. Once an outbreak is detected, they have to eliminate all in the infected zones to stop it from spreading further. It’s even more challenging with wild animals, since they aren’t confined to one place and can roam freely, spreading it even more.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62046)
•
19 Jun
That's just terrible...and a lot of baby seals to lose. Heartbreaking...and if it spreads to your mainland, truly a disaster. I am so sorry.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (62046)
•
22 Jun
@JudyEv
It is a huge amount of deaths. It’s hard to even think about.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (45935)
•
19 Jun
Not good at all
13 000 is a lot of seal pups to lose
It could be like doomsday if it spreads to the mainland
Wonder why it hasn't got there already
Either by infected birds or marine life
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (386902)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Jun
@Ineeddentures The two were on the mainland but on an isolated beach.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (45935)
•
20 Jun
@JudyEv
If there are two, do you think that there will be more, maybe already on the mainland ,
1 person likes this
@valherma00 (5164)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
22 Jun
o, no, this is scary. i thought animals are safe.
1 person likes this
@valherma00 (5164)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
27 Jun
@JudyEv i hate those viruses. like we sre in the middle ages again but we are more resourceful but still. i feel we know of so many names of the diseases but we don't have a cure for a lot of them. what are scientists doing; they should hurry up and not doing things just for profit.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (212037)
• United States
19 Jun
That is terrible. They better do their best to keep that virus contained
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (177485)
• United States
19 Jun
The worry now is that bird flu will also spread to humans. If seals can get it, so can humans.
I hope it can be contained before it wipes out more seals.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (100146)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Jun
That is so sad; I hope they can find a way to control this. I am putting these animals in my prayers,
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (100146)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Jun
@JudyEv this calls for a prayer for the birds.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (124644)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
19 Jun
I am sorry to learn that an illness is killing elephant seal pups in your homeland.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (124644)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
20 Jun
@JudyEv I know what you mean.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (45543)
• Denver, Colorado
19 Jun
Oh man. I hope there's something they can do. That's sad.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (45543)
• Denver, Colorado
20 Jun
@JudyEv - That's true, too. It's just sad.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (223782)
• United States
21 Jun
This is horrible news. I hope they can staunch the spread of this disease.
1 person likes this
@almostoveryou (5199)
• Philippines
20 Jun
That's a lot of seal pups!! I'm so sad to know about this. :(
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (87284)
• United States
19 Jun
Oh, that’s horrible. I hope they can stem the tide of that from spreading to other animals.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54584)
• United States
19 Jun
That is so sad. I hope that the spread of it can be stopped.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (386902)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Jun
They found two sick migratory birds near Esperance and they've tested positive to the bacteria.
