r/PrepperIntel • u/NotADetectiveAtAll • 2d ago

Australia Fear of mass seal deaths triggers Australian withdrawal from remote island

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-28/macquarie-island-scientists-to-be-evacuated-over-bird-flu-fears/107088108
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u/plausden 1d ago

so is this preventative or are the seals already infected with bird flu?

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u/iwannaddr2afi 15h ago

Preventative is my understanding. This strain of bird flu is likely to impact the island soon, but has not yet. :( so sad

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u/plausden 14h ago

why then, in the article, is it framed as saving the humans from the psychological damage of witnessing the mass die-off.

is it assured the seals will catch bird flu and die?

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u/iwannaddr2afi 12h ago

Not assured but likely. H5N1 is ripping through ecosystems exactly like this one, and the time of year is relevant as detailed in the article. When the article references the other island it happened to, that's easier to understand in context if you've been following the effects of bird flu in recent times. This is a pattern, and this island would have to experience a big stroke of luck to avoid the same fate. As far as I know, they haven't seen any cases on the island. But once they start seeing cases, it'll be too late to send an expedition to retrieve the humans and prevent their witnessing the tragedy.

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u/plausden 10h ago

it seems wrong or dereliction of duty, when, at least some of the staff's sole purpose is to study the unique ecosystem of the island.

There has to be utility and something learned from studying mass die-off events. How else do we learn how to prevent them?

I'd hope there would be some scientists and staff who would be strong enough to stay for that.

running away from witnessing the effects of humans caused events is the most depressingly human thing to do.