Marine & Wildlife

Wild Gannet Colony HPAI Welfare

H5N1 avian influenza continues to affect seabird colonies including gannets, and understanding welfare implications guides appropriate response to future outbreaks.

Key Facts

H5N1 causes neurological disease and death in gannets within 5-10 days of exposure
Severely affected birds showing inability to fly or swim benefit from humane euthanasia
There is no treatment or vaccine available for wild seabirds affected by avian influenza
Surveyors assessing affected colonies must wear PPE to prevent zoonotic transmission
Colony-level recovery monitoring tracks population welfare following outbreak events

Welfare Considerations

HPAI welfare management in seabird colonies is primarily focused on humane euthanasia of severely affected individuals and population monitoring. Prevention requires addressing wider transmission routes.

What You Can Do

Report obviously suffering seabirds to RSPB and APHA immediately
Never handle sick or dead seabirds without appropriate PPE
Support seabird monitoring organisations tracking colony welfare post-HPAI