HPAI Kills Over 1,000 Migratory Cranes in Germany
More than 1,000 cranes were found dead at a major resting site near Linum, a town in northeastern Germany that serves as a key stopover for migratory cranes traveling across Europe. Similar findings have been reported at additional locations in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania.
The German Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), announced on Monday (October 20) that samples collected from Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia tested positive for the H5N1 subtype of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
The scale of mortality has raised serious concern about the devastating impact of avian influenza on migratory crane populations throughout Europe. Volunteers in protective gear have been working to collect and remove carcasses to limit further spread.
