SA wildlife park to vaccinate 100 birds against deadly H5 bird flu

About 100 captive native birds at Cleland Wildlife Park will be vaccinated against H5N1 bird flu. They include critically endangered orange-bellied parrots and, regent honeyeaters, endangered red-tailed black cockatoos and vulnerable regent parrots, in addition to 26 other bird species at the park. Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven said Cleland would be the first South Australian wildlife park to gain approval to administer the H5N1 vaccine to its captive birds. It recently received federal funding to upgrade several aviaries in anticipation of the arrival of bird flu in Australia. Cleland Wildlife Park general manager Kelly Bramhill said biosecurity measures have restricted public access to three other aviaries not subject to the upgrades. "Vaccination for us really is that last line of defence," she said.Vaccine not a 'silver bullet' Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said Australia currently had around 12,000 vaccine vials available. The vaccines are not fully protective against the disease, and would require two shots to maximise immunity. Native Australian species are receiving the vaccine for the first time, and will be monitored before undergoing the final dose. Ms Scriven said the vaccine was "not a silver bullet". "We are not 100 per cent sure of the effectiveness of the vaccines on particular species," she said. Ms Scriven said logistical difficulties capturing, vaccinating and monitoring wild birds meant captive and endangered species were the government's current priority. SA's chief veterinary officer Dr Skye Fruean said Zoos SA, which operates the Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park, was the only other organisation working through a vaccine approval process with the Department for Primary Industries and Regions. "We’re working with them to make sure that it can meet all the regulatory requirements and can be done safely … we’ve been discussions with them for a little while and will meet them again this week," Dr Fruean said. A vaccination program for Phillip Island's little penguin colony is also underway.