✓ The Guardian AustraliaScience & Systems

1,000 penguins vaccinated against bird flu in world-first program

Phillip Island's little penguins receive H5N1 vaccine in what is believed to be the world's largest vaccination program for wild birds, with about 5,000 total birds targeted for two doses.

Why it mattersBird flu could kill many penguins and threaten Phillip Island's penguin parade, a major tourist attraction worth about $500 million a year to Victoria's economy.

AustraliaPhillip Island's penguin population draws 700,000 visitors yearly and contributes about $500m to Victoria's economy; protecting them protects a major regional drawcard.

✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago