Penguins line up for bird flu vaccinations at Paris zoo

At a zoo in Paris, a lone seagull casually wandered through the penguin habitat. While seemingly harmless, the bird represents a serious risk to the penguins due to the global bird flu outbreaks that have killed millions of birds in recent years.

On a chilly December morning, 41 Humboldt penguins waited near their pool at the Paris Zoological Park for their annual influenza vaccinations. A zookeeper comforted one penguin, named Cissou, as a veterinarian administered the vaccine. Once vaccinated, Cissou returned to his enclosure.

During the process, around ten staff members weighed and measured the penguins, collected feather and blood samples, examined their feet, and checked microchips. The young penguins born this year will receive a booster shot in a month.

The zoo, located in Vincennes Park in eastern Paris, has never reported bird flu. However, it hosts wild birds like crows, magpies, geese, and parakeets, making a potential outbreak extremely dangerous for its residents.

French health authorities recently warned that this season could see one of the worst bird flu outbreaks in years.

Veterinarian Sylvie Laidebeure explained that vaccination decisions are based on a "risk-benefit assessment" for each species. She noted that the procedure can be stressful for the birds and may sometimes cause inflammatory reactions. Only birds in outdoor or mesh-enclosed habitats, such as hornbills, vultures, ostriches, marabou storks, and cranes, are routinely vaccinated.

France has been vaccinating zoo birds since 2006, well before it began vaccinating farm ducks nationwide in 2023. This extensive experience has provided valuable insights into vaccine effectiveness and safety across different species.

Laidebeure emphasized that this knowledge has helped reassure the public before broader vaccination programs were introduced on farms.

Author: Zoe Harrison