A race against bird flu is underway on Australia's Phillip Island, where wildlife workers are catching and vaccinating more than 5,000 little penguins against highly contagious H5N1 avian influenza.

These penguins are a major tourist attraction, drawing more than 700,000 visitors each year for the famous "penguin parade" at sunset.

After three mass bird deaths were recently identified in South Australia, which are "presumed" to have died from H5N1 bird flu, wildlife experts are stepping up efforts to protect the vulnerable population.