Flying Foxes, Lorikeets Dropped Dead In S. Australian Town; Autopsies Showed Lead At 1,000s Of Times Normal Exposures
South Australia’s Environment Protection Authority did not open a formal investigation into what may have killed dozens of birds in Port Pirie, despite tests showing some of the animals had been exposed to 3,000 times the acceptable level of lead. In July 2024, residents of the industrial town raised the alarm when they found dead and dying native birds and flying foxes in local parks and green spaces.
Pictures of dead and sick animals were posted on social media, and testing by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia (Pirsa) later confirmed they had died from acute lead toxicosis. Autopsy reports on two bats, a lorikeet and a honey eater obtained via freedom of information (FoI) requests show the animals died with massive amounts of lead in their systems. Notes from one of the bats’ autopsies recorded “the nasal passages are distended by fine pale white gritty material admixed with red exudate”. Testing on one bat’s kidney showed about 3,000 times the acceptable level of lead, while another showed about 1,500 times acceptable levels.
Wayne Boardman, an associate professor of wildlife, biodiversity and ecosystem health at the University of Adelaide, said that in his opinion the testing showed that “the scale of the exposure was highly significant” and that it was probable the animals died within 24 to 48 hours of exposure.
“It’s not surprising these animals died acutely and were easily found by members of the public,” Boardman said. “It also indicates that, at the time, humans, other wildlife species, dogs and cats, livestock and marine wildlife would likely have been exposed to significant levels of lead in the air.” “This is a public health issue and potentially an animal welfare issue. This lead exposure should not be taken lightly.”
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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/12/dead-and-dying-port-pirie-birds-and-bats-exposed-to-lead-at-3000-times-acceptable-levels-testing-showed
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