MEDIA RELEASE
25 June 2026
With highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza (bird flu) confirmed in mainland South Australia, SA's response must apply lessons learnt from algal bloom response.
The confirmation of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza (bird flu) on mainland South Australia near Port Elliot, has heightened concerns for South Australia's wildlife, with conservation groups warning the virus could have devastating consequences if it reaches the state's internationally significant seabird colonies, black swan populations and marine mammals.
The Conservation Council SA believes South Australia cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the recent algal bloom crisis, where the scale of the threat quickly overwhelmed existing response capacity. With bird flu now on our doorstep, Conservation SA is calling for a coordinated partnership between governments, conservation organisations and local communities to ensure outbreaks are detected early and wildlife receives the protection it needs.
Kirsty Bevan, Conservation Council SA CEO said globally significant bird colonies – including those at the already vulnerable Murray-Darling Basin, Kangaroo Island, St Kilda Salt Fields and the Spencer Gulf – as well as the state’s vulnerable marine mammal populations, face a catastrophic threat if the virus spreads.
'The environmental risk posed by H5 bird flu cannot be overstated. This virus behaves like a wildfire through wildlife populations, and its introduction into our local ecosystems could permanently alter South Australia's biodiversity.
'More than 600 bird species and 80 mammal species have been infected worldwide. For our local wildlife – many of which are already facing severe pressures from invasive species, habitat loss and climate change – an outbreak of this magnitude could push vulnerable populations to the brink of extinction.’
‘Our marine environment is still recovering from the catastrophic algal bloom, and it has taught us that early intervention is everything. We cannot wait for H5 bird flu to establish itself on our shores before we act. A proactive, whole-of-society defence is desperately needed.
‘We welcome the state government’s current preparedness efforts, but the true key to success lies in a structured partnership with the environment sector, local government and the broader community. If we combine government resources with the thousands of community eyes we have on the ground, we can ensure South Australia is ready to face this threat head-on.
'We are ready to mobilise alongside the SA government to assist with active surveillance, carcass management protocols and public education. We must ensure that our national parks, coastlines and sanctuaries are intensely monitored, and that the community knows exactly what to look out for.
Key areas for immediate joint action
There are 4 priority areas where the environment sector can immediately bolster the South Australian government’s preparedness plans:
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Community surveillance networks: mobilising existing conservation networks to rapidly train and deploy community volunteers for passive and active monitoring along SA’s extensive coastlines and wetlands for bird mortality through iNaturalist.
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Operational support and training: partnering on the ground for early safe carcass collection, disposal and site decontamination protocols to prevent the virus from overwhelming local and state government field staff.
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Active mitigation of spread: working with experts in compost waste management to deploy pilot control measures to limit the dispersal of any infection through sea bird colonies accessing city and regional waste facilities.
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Data sharing and mapping: collaborating with ecological researchers to map high-risk aggregation zones—such as breeding colonies of black swans, pelicans and sea lions—to target early biosecurity interventions.
RELEASE ENDS
Media contacts:
Kirsty Bevan
CEO - Conservation SA
[email protected]