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Image: Eric J Woehler

Webinar: H5N1 Bird Flu and Australian Wildlife

Impacts, emerging risks and how to close gaps in the national response

The deadly H5N1 bird flu has arrived in Australia with the potential to greatly disrupt ecosystems and push our most threatened species even closer to extinction.

Australia is the last continent to grapple with this disease, and the Federal Government is coordinating the national response.

Now is the time to publicly share plans, increase surveillance and coordination, and step up federal investment to lessen the impact on Australia’s most at-risk species and ecosystems.

In this interactive webinar, experts will unpack the impacts of bird flu globally and the risk to Australia’s unique birds, mammals and ecosystems. They then will identify urgent actions needed today to improve Australia's response – including deeply engaging Traditional Knowledge Holder Elders in decision making.

The webinar will include a Q&A session.

? Date: Thu 9 Jul

? Time: 4-5:30pm (AEST)

This webinar is in partnership with the Australian Marine Conservation Society, BirdLife Australia and Invasive Species Council.

Image: Eric J Woehler

Speakers and topics:

• MC Kate Millar, CEO of BirdLife Australia.

• Dr Michelle Wille, ARC Future Fellow at the Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne. Topic: Impacts of H5N1 bird flu globally and the risk to Australia’s wildlife.

• Dr Tiggy Grillo, National Coordinator and COO of Wildlife Health Australia. Topic: Lessons from the global response and what’s being done in Australia.

• Shandell Cummings, a Menang woman from the south coast of Western Australia and University of Western Australia academic and artist. Topic: Cultural, Spiritual and Physical risks of bird flu on First Peoples.

• Dr Dale Wright, Director Science and Priority Landscapes at BirdLife Australia and Acting Executive Director Conservation & Science. Topic: Risk to native birds and what’s needed to mobilise support.

• Alexia Wellbelove, Campaigns Director at the Australian Marine Conservation Society. Topic: Risk to native mammals and other wildlife and what’s needed to mobilise support.

• Jack Gough, CEO of Invasive Species Council. Topic: Building resilience – Expanding threat mitigation actions for priority sites and species.

H5 bird flu won’t just impact birds but threatens mammals, like the quoll, who will be exposed by predating on infected animals. Image: Nicolas Rakotopare