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.
Port Pirie is home to one of the world’s largest lead refineries operated by the Belgium-based Nyrstar that serves as the major employer in the town. It has been in continuous operation since 1889.
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.
An EPA spokesperson later told Guardian Australia: “The EPA followed up on this matter by interviewing stakeholders, including Pirsa, the local council, vets and relevant animal welfare NGOs but was unable to establish any leads as to the specific source of the acute lead toxicity,”