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47% Drop in Elephant Seals Amid H5N1 Outbreak

11/15/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The H5N1 bird flu outbreak has driven a 47% decline in breeding female southern elephant seals on South Georgia from 2022 to 2024, with 53,000 females missing.
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) researchers used drones for aerial surveys after H5N1 was detected in birds on South Georgia in late 2023 and spread to marine mammals.
Researchers call for urgent monitoring to assess potential recovery.
The study was published in Communications Biology.

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Story summary

The H5N1 bird flu outbreak has driven a 47% decline in breeding female southern elephant seals on South Georgia from 2022 to 2024, with 53,000 females missing.
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) researchers used drones for aerial surveys after H5N1 was detected in birds on South Georgia in late 2023 and spread to marine mammals.
Researchers call for urgent monitoring to assess potential recovery.
The study was published in Communications Biology.