Authorities Pushes On with Full Eradication Strategy to Slaughter 400 Flightless Birds
Canada’s food safety authority has announced it aims to start a “complete depopulation” of numerous ostriches at a farm following the supreme court refused to stop the disputed cull.
Legal Impediments Cleared by Court Ruling
Thursday’s ruling eliminated all legal impediment to starting the killings.
Universal Ostrich Farms, situated near the community of Edgewood, was first ordered in the month of May to cull close to 400 ostriches, amid fears of an outbreak of H5N1 avian flu.
Just days ago, officials seized control of the business.
Sixty-nine birds have already died after the outbreak of a flu-like illness.
On Wednesday, the nation’s top court issued an temporary halt on the cull order as it considered whether to take up the matter.
Governmental and Societal Responses
The growing row over the ostriches – and a lingering post-pandemic skepticism – have motivated protesters to gather at the farm, with many broadcasting their anger on social media.
The situation has also penetrated the nation’s political sphere.
In early October, the opposition leader, the Tory leader, was asked repeatedly by reporters whether he supported protesters.
The Tory leader has steered clear of making specific comments on the issue, despite many within his party voicing opposition against the slaughter.
He told the press the situation had been “mismanaged from the very beginning” but avoided mentioning the word the bird’s name.
Cross-Border Involvement and Proposals
A number of high-profile figures from the US have lobbied authorities in Canada.
The American health chief proposed to move the ostriches to his ranch in the Sunshine State.
An US billionaire has also appealed with the authorities to reverse its cull order.
Health and Moral Arguments
The Canadian federal government stated the food inspection agency was following a “stamping out” policy in order to contain the transmission of bird flu, a step in line with wider guidance from international health bodies.
However, animal rights organizations have called on the agency to perform further testing on the birds to verify they are carrying the virus.
The ranch operators said that because the last bird flu death happened on 15 January 2025, with the remaining birds seeming healthy or healed, the flock has developed at least partial herd immunity against the virus.
They have also expressed skepticism on the extent and reliability of testing on the ostriches.
Farm Representative Response
Recently, the farm’s spokesperson, informed the media that the agency was “murdering” healthy birds.
“They are prehistoric animals that have endured millions of years, but they won’t survive 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 federal court, on the other hand, found that allowing the ostriches to remain alive could result in the transmission of bird flu to different species, the livestock sector – or to humans.
The agency has not announced when it expects to begin culling the birds.
Eradication Methods
A 2016 agency manual, acquired under public access laws, states the birds can be euthanized by various methods, the preferred being injection, which requires three people: one to hold the ostrich by restraining it, one to hold the head, and a third to administer the injection.
Staff can also use gas or neck dislocation.
Members of the agency can only shoot the ostriches in extreme circumstances, if they have a “skilled marksman” on the premises.
Latest Developments
According to reports, shortly after the court ruling, inspection agents began setting up additional gear and bright lights around a makeshift pen near the rear of the ostrich pen.
