Wildlife

Wild Animal Welfare and Avian Influenza Recovery 2026

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has caused devastating mortality in wild seabirds, with 2026 bringing recovery efforts and welfare concerns.

Key Facts

HPAI H5N1 killed over 70% of some UK seabird colonies in 2022-2023
Great skua populations declined by 75% in the Shetland Islands
Oiled and diseased birds found alive require welfare assessment before intervention
HPAI vaccination for wild birds is under development but not yet deployable
Monitoring programs track population recovery and disease persistence

Welfare Considerations

HPAI caused enormous individual suffering and population losses. Monitoring, biosecurity, and vaccine development are priority responses to prevent future outbreaks.

What You Can Do

Report sick or dead wild birds to your national disease surveillance network
Support seabird monitoring and conservation programs
Advocate for HPAI vaccine research funding for wildlife protection