(HANDOUT/Esperance Wildlife Hospital and Sanctuary) Credit: AAPA suspected bird flu case has been found near a critical Australian sea lion population, sparking fears the endangered species may be at risk of extinction. Eleven suspected bird flu cases have been discovered in South Australia including one near the critical Seal Bay colony on Kangaroo Island. Conservationists fear bird flu could devastate the Seal Bay colony which is home to about five per cent of the global population. "This is the news we feared but predicted given the experience of bird flu internationally," the society's Alexia Wellbelove said. "The Australian sea lion simply cannot absorb the kind of losses we have seen bird flu inflict on marine mammals overseas."