The avian influenza type H5N1 has been spreading in Germany since the end of October. Researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute are now turning their attention to the Antarctic: on an expedition to the newly established protected area "Danger Islands", they want to find out whether the highly contagious virus is also spreading among Antarctic seabirds and whether penguins, which breed in huge colonies, are already at risk. The research team is supported by Tierpark Berlin, which contributed its experience in dealing with penguins.
"The virus was first detected in Antarctica in the last two breeding seasons. At the moment, it is mainly skuas that are affected," explains Dr Simeon Lisovski from the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), who is leading the expedition. “There is currently no evidence of infected penguins, but if the pathogen gets into their dense colonies, it could have catastrophic consequences for the entire population.”
For their investigations, the researchers have to take blood samples from the animals, which is not that easy: "Penguins are masters at adapting to life in the water. Their entire body is covered with tiny, overlapping feathers, several dozen per square centimeter, similar to scales. This means that no veins are visible," says Lisovski. "Even on the feet, which are free of feathers, blood flow is greatly reduced in order to conserve heat. It's almost impossible to take blood in the traditional way." That's why the AWI ecologist turned to the vets at Tierpark Berlin, who use a special technique for their Humboldt penguins in which a vein is punctured in the lower back just before the tail. "We invited Dr Lisovski to practice on our penguins," recalls vet Dr Andreas Pauly. "Science and the Tierpark can learn from each other when it comes to promoting animal health and species conservation worldwide." Using this method, the AWI team was able to successfully collect blood samples from wild penguins last year - a crucial step that showed that the animals sampled had not yet been exposed to the virus.
With Team Malizia to the new "Danger Islands" sanctuary
In mid-November, Simeon Lisovski set off from Ushuaia in southern Argentina for the Danger Islands, where he and AWI doctoral student Bennet Stolze will spend around four weeks testing Adélie penguins for the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Their colony on Danger Islands is one of the largest in the world, estimated at over 750,000 breeding pairs, in some cases even more than a million. In this enormous density, a virus like H5N1 could spread rapidly and tip the delicate balance of the Antarctic ecosystem. "We are at a turning point," says Lisovski. "Antarctica has long been a haven of unspoiled nature. Now it could become the last frontline of a global pandemic."
The expedition is travelling to an area that is of particular ecological importance: the Danger Islands. The small group of islands in the north-eastern Division of the Antarctic Peninsula has been designated as a protected area since 2024 – the first in the Antarctic to be initiated and managed by Germany. The area comprises seven largely untouched islands with a land area of around 4.5 square kilometers. "The Danger Islands are one of the last almost intact breeding areas in the Antarctic," says Lisovski. “Understanding and protecting them is crucial for the future of this unique wildlife.”
The research is part of a joint expedition with the Federal Environment Agency, which is supported by Boris Herrmann's Malizia sailing team and the Malizia Explorer, a sailing ship newly equipped for scientific purposes. During its voyages, the vessel collects marine data such as temperature, salinity and CO2 content, which scientific institutions such as the AWI can use to better explore marine regions that are otherwise difficult to reach.