Fearing traumatic seal die-off, Australia moves to evacuate polar research station
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science)
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September 29 2026
"The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) has made an unprecedented and controversial decision to evacuate its research station on a remote sub-Antarctic island for fear that a highly pathogenic strain of H5N1 avian flu known as 2.3.4.4b will soon reach its shores. The risk to human health on Macquarie Island—located in the Southern Ocean midway between Australia and Antarctica—is low, the agency said when announcing the move last week. But the virus could wipe out thousands of southern elephant seal pups born on beaches next to the station, potentially leading to psychological distress for staff..."
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