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Canada’s food inspection agency has announced it aims to start a “complete depopulation” of hundreds of these large birds at a ranch following the country’s top court declined to stop the disputed eradication.

Judicial Obstacles Removed by Supreme Court Decision

The recent judicial decision eliminated any legal impediment to beginning the slaughter.

Universal Ostrich Farms, situated near the community of Edgewood, British Columbia, was initially directed in May to cull close to 400 ostriches, due to fears of an outbreak of H5N1 avian flu.

Just days ago, officials seized control of the business.

Nearly seventy birds have already died after the outbreak of a influenza-like sickness.

Midweek, the nation’s top court granted an interim stay on the cull order as it considered whether to take up the matter.

Governmental and Public Responses

The escalating dispute over the ostriches – and a simmering distrust of government – have inspired protesters to gather at the property, with many broadcasting their frustration on online platforms.

The situation has also penetrated Canada’s federal politics.

In early October, the Conservative leader, the Tory leader, was questioned twice by journalists whether he backed protesters.

The Conservative figure has steered clear of making specific comments on the matter, despite many within his political group protesting against the slaughter.

He told the press the issue had been poorly handled from the start but didn’t say the word the bird’s name.

Cross-Border Interest and Offers

Several high-profile figures from the United States have lobbied Canadian officials.

The American health chief proposed to relocate the birds to his property in the Sunshine State.

An American wealthy businessman has also appealed with the Canadian government to rescind its eradication directive.

Scientific and Moral Arguments

The national authorities stated the food inspection agency was following a eradication policy in order to limit the transmission of bird flu, a move consistent with broader advice from global health organizations.

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

The ranch operators claimed that because the last bird flu death happened on 15 January 2025, with the surviving majority seeming healthy or recovered, the flock has developed 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.

Farm Representative Response

Recently, the ranch representative, told the press that the agency was killing birds in good health.

“They are ancient creatures that have survived millions of years, but they will not survive the Canadian Food Inspection Agency,” she said.

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

Judicial and Authority Findings

A federal court, on the other hand, found that permitting the ostriches to remain alive could result in the spread of avian influenza to different species, the livestock sector – or to humans.

The authority has not announced at what time it expects to start slaughtering the birds.

Eradication Procedures

An older agency manual, acquired under public access laws, says ostriches can be euthanized by different means, the recommended being injection, which requires three people: one person to restrain the bird by sitting on its back, one to hold the head, and a third to administer the injection.

Staff can also use gas chambers or neck dislocation.

Members of the agency can only use firearms on the ostriches “as a last resort”, if they have a trained shooter on the premises.

Recent Developments

As per reports, soon after the judicial decision, agency workers started installing more equipment and flood lighting around a makeshift pen near the rear of the bird enclosure.