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Victoria’s chief biodiversity officer, James Todd, said he understood Victorians would be worried about the detection of the deadly virus in a little penguin. “We know that the detection in a little penguin on Phillip Island is of concern,” he said. “But we are proceeding with vaccination of the little penguin colony on Phillip Island and at St Kilda as a meaningful way in which it can help mitigate the impact of H5 on those populations. “We know that little penguins are iconic and highly valued by Victorians, and for that reason, we are working as a priority to protect those colonies.” Get the most important news as it breaks The state’s chief veterinary officer, Dr Graeme Cooke, said Agriculture Victoria and Phillip Island Nature Parks “activated plans” to vaccinate little penguins as soon as the federal government authorised the vaccines for priority native bird species. “Agriculture Victoria is working closely with Phillip Island Nature Parks to support vaccination of little penguins from Monday,” he said. “While the first detection in a little penguin is a concern, vaccination of little penguins on Phillip Island remains a meaningful way to help protect this important colony.” The Victorian government said there had been two further detections of H5 in greater crested terns, one at Lakes Entrance and the other at Dromana on the Mornington peninsula.
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