Wildlife Welfare

Wild Seabird Avian Influenza Welfare Scale

The scale of avian influenza mortality in UK seabird colonies since 2022 represents one of the largest wildlife welfare emergencies in recent history.

Key Facts

HPAI H5N1 killed tens of thousands of gannets, skuas, and other seabirds in 2022-2023
Affected birds show neurological symptoms before death, with a distressing progression
Mass mortality events at colonies cause disruption to surviving breeders and reduce reproductive success
Surveillance of seabird mortality has improved but systematic welfare monitoring remains limited
The role of wildlife in maintaining and spreading HPAI poses complex management challenges

Welfare Considerations

Avian influenza mortality in seabird colonies represents a welfare emergency affecting enormous numbers of individual birds. Birds dying from HPAI experience neurological deterioration and distress before death. The scale of mortality at some colonies has been catastrophic. While intervention options are limited, improving monitoring, understanding transmission, and exploring biosecurity options are legitimate welfare responses to a significant ongoing harm.

What You Can Do

Support seabird monitoring programmes that track HPAI mortality and recovery
Avoid handling sick or dead seabirds without protective equipment and report to the relevant authority
Advocate for investment in avian influenza research that includes seabird welfare considerations