Marine & Wildlife

Wild Gannet Colony Welfare Post-HPAI

Gannets faced catastrophic mortality from H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks in 2022, and colony recovery and individual welfare monitoring are ongoing priorities.

Key Facts

The Bass Rock colony, the world's largest northern gannet colony, lost an estimated 25% of adults in 2022
H5N1 causes neurological disease, disorientation and death in seabirds
Affected birds showed swimming in circles, loss of coordination and inability to fly
Colony monitoring through annual counts tracks recovery trajectory
No licensed treatment exists for avian influenza in wild birds; welfare intervention is limited to humane euthanasia of suffering individuals

Welfare Considerations

Avian influenza caused mass suffering in gannet colonies and recovery may take years. Monitoring individual welfare and enabling humane euthanasia for affected birds are immediate priorities.

What You Can Do

Report sick or dead seabirds to the RSPB Wildlife Crime Unit and APHA
Never handle seabirds showing neurological signs without appropriate PPE
Support seabird monitoring organisations tracking HPAI recovery in gannet colonies