🔗 Share this article

Canada’s food safety authority has announced it aims to begin a “complete depopulation” of numerous ostriches at a farm after the country’s top court declined to stop the disputed cull.

Judicial Obstacles Removed by Supreme Court Decision

On Thursday removed any judicial obstacle to commencing the killings.

Universal Ostrich Farms, located near the community of Edgewood, was initially directed in May to cull nearly 400 birds, amid concerns of an spread of H5N1 avian flu.

Earlier this week, authorities took over of the business.

Sixty-nine birds have previously perished after the emergence of a flu-like illness.

On Wednesday, the nation’s top court issued an interim stay on the cull order as it weighed whether to hear the case.

Political and Societal Responses

The growing row over the ostriches – and a lingering distrust of government – have inspired protesters to gather at the farm, with many expressing their frustration on social media.

The situation has also entered the nation’s political sphere.

Earlier this fall, the opposition leader, the Tory leader, was asked twice by journalists whether he supported the demonstrators.

The Tory leader has steered clear of making direct statements on the matter, even though many within his political group protesting against the cull.

He told the press the situation had been “mismanaged from the very beginning” but avoided mentioning the word “ostrich”.

International Involvement and Proposals

Several prominent figures from the United States have lobbied authorities in Canada.

The US health secretary offered to relocate the ostriches to his property in Florida.

An American wealthy businessman has also pleaded with the Canadian government to reverse its cull order.

Health and Moral Arguments

The Canadian federal government stated the relevant agency was adhering to a “stamping out” approach in order to contain the spread of bird flu, a move in line with wider guidance from international health bodies.

However, animal advocacy groups have urged the agency to perform additional tests on the birds to confirm they are infected.

The farm owners said that because the last bird flu death happened on January 15th, with the surviving majority appearing in good condition or recovered, the group has acquired at least some level of immunity against the virus.

They have also expressed skepticism on the scope and reliability of the tests on the birds.

Ranch Spokesperson Reaction

On Thursday, the farm’s spokesperson, informed the media that the authority was “murdering” healthy birds.

“These are ancient creatures that have endured eons, but they won’t endure the Canadian Food Inspection Agency,” she stated.

A partner said he was concerned there’s – in my opinion – there’s no fairness left”.

Court and Authority Decisions

A national court, on the other hand, determined that permitting the ostriches to remain alive could result in the transmission of avian influenza to other animals, the poultry industry – or to humans.

The authority has not announced when it expects to begin culling the ostriches.

Eradication Methods

A 2016 agency manual, acquired under public access laws, says ostriches can be killed by different means, the preferred being lethal injection, which needs multiple individuals: one person to restrain the bird by sitting on its back, one to hold the head, and one to inject the drug.

Staff can also use gas or break the birds’ necks.

Employees of the agency can only shoot the birds “as a last resort”, if they have a “skilled marksman” on site.

Latest Updates

According to reports, soon after the judicial decision, inspection agents began setting up more equipment and flood lighting around a makeshift pen near the rear of the ostrich pen.