New Zealand is preparing to protect its critically endangered birds, including the kākāpō, from H5 avian influenza ahead of the spring migration season. With fewer than 250 kākāpō remaining, even a single outbreak could be catastrophic.
In a world-first trial, the Department of Conservation vaccinated up to 10 captive birds from five endangered species, including kākāpō, takahē, kakī, tūturuatu, and one type of kākāriki. Using an H5N3 poultry vaccine, four species developed strong antibody responses lasting at least six months.
Vaccination focuses on captive breeding populations, as immunising wild birds is logistically challenging. Similar efforts abroad, such as vaccinating California condors after 21 died from H5 in 2023, have informed these strategies.
Experts caution that vaccines can lose effectiveness as viruses evolve, and incomplete vaccination may drive more virulent strains. Despite this, the consensus is that vaccinated birds have better protection than unvaccinated ones.
“If we start too soon, we’ll lose immunity. If too late, we could miss the critical window,” says Kate McInnes, wildlife veterinarian and senior science adviser at DOC.
The programme aims to shield birds until the virus potentially reaches Oceania, while broader measures, like habitat management, support overall population resilience.
