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H5 Bird Flu Threatens Westland Petrels | Wellington News
New Zealand’s first H5 bird flu case, found in a skua on Petone Beach, has triggered alarm for the critically endangered Westland petrel — whose entire breeding ground is a tiny stretch above the Punakaiki River. These birds take seven years to breed and raise just one chick a year, making them especially vulnerable as chicks hatch now. Though experts say immediate danger to the petrels is low, tours to the colony are paused and officials are reviewing containment strategies. The virus also threatens larger penguin colonies along the West Coast, with rangers ready to respond. Authorities are…
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