澳大利亚确认了H5N1禽流感在本土野生动物中的首次大规模爆发。数十只冠鸥在南澳大利亚Boudin Rocks测试呈阳性，Robe的一只海鸥也被检测出感染[1]。环保部长Murray Watt表示这"仅是开始"，并警告这将是一段"漫长而困难的旅程"[1]。农业部长Julie Collins指出，澳大利亚人应预期野生动物感染将出现更广泛的传播和更大规模的影响[1]。
H5N1病毒已在全球造成超过3亿只动物的死亡[1]。在澳大利亚，禽流感的威胁已波及家禽养殖业——2024年的禽流感爆发导致约200万只鸡被杀死，引发了蛋类短缺[1]。为应对这一局面，澳大利亚政府承诺投入1.13亿澳元进行快速应对准备[1]。
澳大利亚的野生动物保护工作长期依靠志愿者和护理人员的支撑。该国有超过20000名志愿野生动物护理员参与工作[2]，最大的野生动物护理组织WIRES已动员4000名志愿者进行监测[2]。然而，这些志愿者的投入代价巨大——平均每人每年自费支出5300澳元用于食物和设备，总计约1亿澳元[2]。若按最低工资计算志愿者工时，年成本超过10亿澳元[2]，而保护项目年度支出仅占联邦预算的0.06%[2]。
Australia has confirmed the first large-scale outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in its wildlife, marking a significant escalation in the virus's presence domestically.[1] Dozens of greater crested terns at Boudin Rocks in South Australia's Cape Jaffa tested positive for the virus, along with a silver gull in Robe, prompting warnings from government officials that this is merely the beginning of a wider crisis.[1] Environment Minister Murray Watt characterized the situation as "just the beginning" and described the path ahead as a "long and difficult journey," while Agriculture Minister Julie Collins cautioned that "Australians should expect to see more spread and larger numbers now of wildlife being affected."[1]
The global scale of the outbreak underscores the severity of the threat. H5N1 has already killed more than 300 million animals worldwide, and the 2024 avian flu outbreak resulted in approximately 2 million chickens being culled, creating shortages in egg supplies.[1] To address the emergency, the Australian government has committed A$113 million to rapid response preparedness.[1]
Australia's response relies heavily on an extensive network of volunteers and wildlife carers, with over 20,000 voluntary wildlife care workers operating across the country.[2] The largest wildlife care organization, WIRES, has mobilized 4,000 volunteers for monitoring efforts.[2] However, these volunteers bear significant financial burdens, with each caregiver spending an average of A$5,300 annually out of pocket for food and equipment—a collective cost of approximately A$100 million per year.[2] When calculated at minimum wage rates, the annual economic value of volunteer hours exceeds A$1 billion.[2] The federal government has allocated A$47 million for field operations,[2] though environmental protection funding comprises only 0.06 percent of the federal budget.[2]
