H5N1 bird flu outbreak threatens seals and birds in Portland, Victoria, and nearby regions
Consensus Summary
The H5N1 bird flu outbreak in Portland, Victoria, has raised concerns about the health of Sammy the elephant seal, a local celebrity known for frequenting the town’s foreshore. Since the end of July, there have been 17 confirmed bird flu events in local bird species, with reports of 30 to 40 new sick or dying birds appearing daily. The first mammal death from bird flu was confirmed in a long-nosed fur seal at Beachport, South Australia, on Sunday, heightening fears for Sammy and other marine mammals. Over 100 marine mammals have been reported to the emergency animal disease hotline this month, though none have been confirmed as positive cases. The outbreak has also devastated seal populations, with tens of thousands of seal pups dying in 2025 and 2026, including over 13,000 on Heard Island. Locals and wildlife advocates are calling for stronger government action, including carcass removal and public education to protect seals like Sammy, who has been seen resting near dead birds, including 15 dead terns. Volunteers have stepped in to euthanize suffering birds, but critics argue this is insufficient without broader government intervention.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Southern elephant seals like Sammy are at risk from H5N1 bird flu, with tens of thousands of seal pups dying in 2025 and 2026
- Sammy the elephant seal is a well-known local celebrity in Portland, Victoria, frequenting the foreshore and port
- There have been 17 confirmed bird flu events in crested terns, magpies, silver gulls, and ravens in Portland since the end of July
- The first bird flu mammal death in a long-nosed fur seal was confirmed at Beachport, South Australia, on Sunday
- More than 100 marine mammals have been reported to the emergency animal disease hotline this month in Victoria
- The years 2025 and 2026 saw over 13,000 seal pups die on Heard Island due to H5N1
- Sammy the seal was observed resting near dead birds, including 15 dead terns, in Portland
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Scott Kempton has cleared dozens of dead birds from a slipway in Portland for the past three weeks, with one day last week having 22 dead birds
- Sammy was observed resting with a dead crested tern for five or six hours
- Locals have counted 15 dead terns near Sammy’s resting area
- Scott Kempton believes Sammy’s isolation may help avoid infection but suggests removing carcasses from his area
- Sammy is described as 'not as aggro' as Tasmania’s famous 'Neil the seal'
- Agriculture Victoria was contacted for comment but did not respond in time for publication
- Residents are calling for authorities to protect Sammy and other seals, with a request to keep 30 metres away from seals
- Local resident Lynn Murrell described the situation in Portland as 'pretty grim' with many dead and suffering birds on the beach
- Volunteers from western Victoria traveled to Portland last weekend to humanely euthanize birds due to slow, painful deaths from H5N1
- David Mould from the Victorian Wildlife Alliance called the volunteer effort a 'Band-Aid over a bleeding wound' and criticized the lack of government action
- Southern elephant seals are described as 'gregarious' and 'thigmotactic,' meaning they love to lie touching each other
- More than 100 marine mammals were reported to the emergency hotline this month, though none were confirmed as positive cases
- Southern elephant seals are listed as vulnerable under federal environment laws, and Australian sea lions are endangered
- The Glenelg Shire Council has begun removing some bird carcasses where there are unacceptable public amenity or safety risks
- The state government’s advice is to leave dead birds in place unless there are safety concerns
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The ABC reports Sammy was observed resting with a dead crested tern for five or six hours, while the Guardian does not mention this specific interaction
- The ABC states locals have counted 15 dead terns near Sammy, while the Guardian mentions 30 to 40 new sick and dying birds on the beach daily but does not specify terns
- The ABC implies Sammy’s isolation may help avoid infection, while the Guardian emphasizes the risk of seals contracting H5N1 from infected birds or the environment
- The Guardian states the state government’s advice is to leave dead birds in place unless there are safety risks, while the ABC does not explicitly mention this advice
Source Articles
Sightings of 'Sammy' the seal lying next to dead birds spark concerns
Portland residents are calling for authorities to protect a celebrity elephant seal known as Sammy from the bird flu outbreak.
Fears for ‘gregarious’ local celebrity Sammy the elephant seal in Victorian bird flu hotspot
Seals and sea lions often communicate by touch and share spaces with wild birds, placing them at risk of infection from H5N1 virus Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Since H5 bird flu arrived in Portland, Victoria, the situation has been “pretty grim” with many dead and suffering birds on the beach, and the dilemma of how to dispose of the carcasses, according to local resident Lynn Murrell. But since the first conf
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