28 December 2021
An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has killed more than 5,200 migratory cranes in Israel, prompting authorities to close the Hula Lake Nature Reserve to visitors. The deaths of thousands of wild birds at the reserve, one of the world's most important bird sanctuaries, represent a major ecological tragedy. Carcasses of other waterbird species, including pelicans and egrets, have also been found.
Approximately 50,000 cranes migrate through Israel each year en route to Africa, while a smaller number remain to overwinter. In 2021, an estimated 30,000 cranes stayed in Israel for the winter.
Image by: Hadas Kahaner/Israel Nature and Parks Authority
