MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Avian Cholera to blame for South Georgia penguin deaths.
THE deaths of hundreds of Chinstrap penguins at Cooper Bay, South Georgia late last year have been blamed on Avian Cholera (Pasturella multocida), a bacterium that has previously been identified in the Antarctic and other sub-Antarctic islands.
So far, no reports of further mortalities in Chinstraps or any other wildlife on the island have been received.
The Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands says it does, however, want to discover more about the situation on the island. Veterinarian Sue Harvey has offered to spend her holiday time on the island conducting further research.
"We are seeking to determine if this is an isolated occurrence of the bacterium or if it is normally present on the island in chinstraps and other birds and seals," Operations Manager for the South Georgia Government, Mr Gordon Liddle, said. "A more complete report will be available to those who want it in the coming months when the study has been completed and written up. "In the meantime we will be grateful for any reports from visitors to the island of any mass mortality seen elsewhere in any species."
The bacterium can be transferred on footwear and Mr Liddle says the South Georgia Government is grateful to the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) members who land passengers on the island for ensuring that all footwear is sterilized, "...each and every time a person lands ashore".
No legislation currently calls for passengers to do the same upon arrival in the Falkland Islands however IAATO members encourage their passengers to have their footwear sterilised as a matter of course.
Mr Liddle confirmed the Cooper Bay Chinstrap colony will remain off limits to visitors until further notice. (PN)
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