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The Guardian Environment

How do you vaccinate 1,000 tiny penguins against bird flu in the wild? It’s ‘really tricky’ but there is a way

More than 1,000 little penguins in Victoria, Australia, have been vaccinated against bird flu in what is believed to be the world's largest wild bird vaccination program. The effort involves trapping penguins at night and giving them two doses of the H5N1 vaccine. The program aims to protect the penguins and the local economy.

What happened

Conservation workers in Victoria vaccinated over 1,000 wild little penguins against bird flu using a method that involves trapping them at night and giving them two doses of the vaccine. The effort is part of a large-scale initiative to protect the penguins and their habitat.

Why it matters

The program helps protect a vulnerable species and supports the local economy, which relies on penguin tourism. It also sets a precedent for managing wildlife health in the face of disease outbreaks.

Why it belongs here

The effort shows how dedicated teams can tackle complex conservation challenges, offering a hopeful example of human action supporting wildlife and ecosystems.

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