Wildlife

Wild Bird: Gannet Colony Welfare and HPAI

Gannet colonies in the UK face devastating impact from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), with mass mortality events causing profound welfare harm.

Key Facts

UK gannet colonies including Bass Rock and Hermaness experienced mass mortality from HPAI in 2022-2023
HPAI H5N1 causes rapid onset neurological signs and death in affected gannets
Mortality events in gannet colonies can affect tens of thousands of birds in a single season
Bodies cannot be removed from island colonies, creating disease amplification risks
Population recovery will take decades given gannets' low reproductive rate of one chick per pair per year

Welfare Considerations

HPAI causes a distressing death in affected gannets through progressive neurological dysfunction. The scale of colony mortality represents mass welfare harm that is impossible to prevent or mitigate at the level of individual birds. Surveillance programmes that track spread and affected colonies enable public awareness and some management response at accessible sites.

What You Can Do

Report sick or dead seabirds showing neurological signs to APHA or DAERA
Avoid handling dead seabirds and maintain strict hygiene if near affected colonies
Support surveillance funding for HPAI monitoring in seabird colonies
Stay informed about restrictions at breeding colonies during HPAI outbreaks
Donate to seabird conservation organisations monitoring colony welfare and recovery