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A walrus in Norway’s Arctic islands has succumbed to bird flu, marking the first known case of its kind, according to a researcher from the Norwegian Polar Institute. The deceased walrus was discovered last year on Hopen Island, part of the Svalbard archipelago, which is located about 1,000 kilometers from the North Pole.

Christian Lydersen informed AFP that this instance was particularly notable as it was the inaugural recording of bird flu in a walrus. The diagnosis was confirmed after a German laboratory analyzed the samples, although the specific strain of the virus, whether H5N1 or H5N8, could not be determined due to the limited sample size. Lydersen also suggested that other walruses in the vicinity might have been affected by the virus.

The implications of this finding are significant, prompting calls from researchers to closely monitor the situation, especially during the summer months when walruses congregate and the ice melts. While bird flu is typically spread among birds like ducks and geese, it can also infect mammals that eat infected birds or live in close proximity to other animals.

Walruses, which can weigh up to two tonnes and primarily feed on fish, occasionally prey on marine birds, thus exposing themselves to potential infection. The transmission of bird flu to marine mammals is a growing concern, noted Frank Wong, a molecular microbiologist at the CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory. He highlighted past instances where sea lions and fur seals contracted the disease.

Moreover, there is a risk to polar bears, which might consume infected walrus carcasses. A case in Alaska saw a polar bear die from bird flu, with similar infections reported among thousands of marine mammals in South America, demonstrating the broader impact of the virus on wildlife.

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