Thousands of Penguins Die in Antarctica, Bird Flu Epidemic Suspected

A scientific expedition in March found at least 532 dead Adelie penguins in Antarctica. It is suspected that thousands more penguins may have died in Antarctica recently, fears Federation University Australia.

The dead Adelie penguins were found frozen solid in the sub-zero temperatures and covered in snow on Heroina Island.

The field test of dead penguins have not confirmed the reason behind recent mass death of penguins in Antarctica. But it is feared that they may have fallen prey to H5N1 bird flu virus. Samples are being shipped off to labs to ascertain the reason behind their deaths.

Scientists are worried because the fatal H5N1 influenza can make threatened species of penguins and other animals on Antarctica, extinct.

The first case of H5N1 infection was confirmed in Antarctica in February.

According to Meagan Dewar, a wildlife biologist with Federation University, who participated in the latest Antarctica expedition, the H5N1 bird flu virus has the potential to have a massive impact on wildlife that is already being impacted by things like climate change and other environmental stresses.

About 20 million pairs of penguins breed in the Antarctic each year, according to the British Antarctic Survey. Those include emperor penguins, which scientists fear will be nearly extinct by the end of the century, as sea ice dwindles due to climate change. Emperor penguins could now face the added threat of deadly bird flu, Dewar said.