There are about 5,000 little penguins on Phillip Island. (Supplied: Phillip Island Nature Parks)<\/p>\n
A Phillip Island little penguin has died from the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu.<\/p>\n
Authorities say it is one of three new detections of the virus in Victoria.<\/p>\n
Victoria's chief biodiversity officer says the death will not affect plans to begin vaccinating the little penguin colony on Monday.<\/p>\n
A Phillip Island penguin has died from H5N1 bird flu in the first detection among the island's little penguin colony.<\/p>\n
The new detection is one of three announced by Victoria's chief veterinary officer, Graeme Cooke, on Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It comes ahead of plans to begin vaccinating the Phillip Island penguins against the virus on Monday.<\/p>\n
The Phillip Island penguin parade is a major attraction that draws national and international visitors.<\/p>\n
Authorities found the dead penguin away from the area where the penguin parade takes place.<\/p>\n
A great crested tern found in Lakes Entrance in East Gippsland and another in Dromana, on the Victorian Mornington Peninsula, also died of bird flu.<\/p>\n
It brings the total number of bird flu cases in Victoria to 74, but Dr Cooke said there were likely more birds sick or dead in the state.<\/p>\n
"We \u2026 recognise that this is distressing for Victorians to see and to hear," he said.<\/p>\n
Dr James Todd says the latest bird flu detections could lead to large losses of wildlife. (ABC News)<\/p>\n
Victoria's chief biodiversity officer, James Todd, said the latest cases were significant because the areas hosted several at-risk bird species that would congregate for the upcoming spring breeding season.<\/p>\n
"It's highly likely the conditions are conducive for H5N1 spread in those areas that would lead to large losses of wildlife," Mr Cooke said.<\/p>\n