Bird flu has killed 20 critically endangered California condors

At the least 20 California condors have died of avian flu in current weeks, and wildlife officers are getting ready for the virus’ unfold among the many critically endangered birds. The extremely contagious H5N1 chook flu that’s killing North America’s largest chook is similar pressure that compelled farmers to cull tens of millions of chickens over the past yr.

It’s a main blow to the inhabitants of California condors (Gymnogyps californianus), which have been pushed to the sting of extinction within the Nineteen Eighties. Intensive breeding and habitat conservation efforts have since bolstered their numbers to round 500 birds, round 300 of which stay within the wild. Clusters of the large vultures can now be discovered from western Canada all the way down to northern Mexico.

In current weeks, the US Fish and Wildlife Service had confirmed not less than 20 condor deaths in a flock positioned round Arizona and Utah. To date, 10 of the condors in that flock have examined constructive for avian flu and the ten remaining birds are at the moment present process examination. The deaths symbolize a 7 per cent lack of the species’ wild inhabitants.

As of 17 April, the US Fish and Wildlife Service was rehabilitating 4 condors from the flock within the south-west US. They have been “receiving supportive care and have proven enchancment”, in response to an announcement.

“My fear is that avian flu might unfold all through the regional condor teams because the illness turns into extra prevalent in chook populations generally,” says Ileene Anderson on the Middle for Organic Range in Arizona. “Since there isn’t any identified vaccine or confirmed therapy, at a minimal it might set again California condor restoration for years and on the worst it might decimate the inhabitants.”

Avian flu has not been detected in neighbouring flocks in California or Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. Officers say they’re monitoring close by condors and getting ready within the occasion that it spreads, particularly as migratory birds that might ferry the virus fly north for spring migration.

Although there have been uncommon circumstances of avian flu sickness and deaths in people, public well being officers say that transmission is uncommon and advise avoiding shut contact with sick or useless wildlife.