Rainbows Fading?

 

Since 2012, a 'mystery disease' has been decimating Rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) populations in Queensland and New South Wales. These Australian birds become paralysed, being unable to fly, swallow or even breathe. This disease spikes in December and January, leading to thousands of lorikeets having to be treated in RSPCA Wildlife hospitals in these States. There's a tentative link to botulism which is seen in local waterfowl but emissions from lead smelters, may also be involved. An apparently similar disease also started to appear in Flying foxes in 2020. The Flying fox disease has similar symptoms and characteristics (it also spikes at the same time) but it's uncertain whether it has the same causal factor(s) (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/13/australia-rainbow-lorikeet-flying-fox-deaths-mystery-paralysis). Wildlife is constantly threatened by disease outbreaks. Bird 'flu, now this! There's a need for vigilance, especially when human activities (smelting and water treatment) may be involved.