A deadly type of bird flu has been found in gentoo penguins for the first time, according to the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), stoking concern that the virus could spread among Antarctica’s huge penguin colonies.
According to the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (Scar), the case was recorded on South Georgia Island. A gentoo penguin is also believed to have died after contracting the H5N1 virus at the same location. More than 20 chicks were also either dead or showed symptoms of the virus.
Currently, the king penguins have clustered together for the breeding season. If the lethal variant of avian flu is indeed found in the dead penguin, it could rip through entire colonies and continue to spread through the region.
King penguins measure about 3 feet in height and are regarded as the world’s second-largest penguins behind Emperor penguins.
Earlier this month, using satellite imagery, researchers revealed previously unknown colonies of emperor penguins along the edges of Antarctica. The scientists said that the finding of these nests adds a few thousand extra penguins to the earlier estimated population of 550,000.
However, if the bird flu reaches them, it could be disastrous and wipe out the entire species. Emperor penguins are already considered “near threatened” and face extinction. The new bird flu scare has added to the challenge to protect them.
