Government Pushes On with Full Eradication Plan to Cull 400 Ostriches
The nation’s food safety authority revealed it aims to begin a total removal of hundreds of these large birds at a ranch following the supreme court declined to halt the controversial cull.
Legal Obstacles Removed by Court Ruling
Thursday’s ruling eliminated all legal barrier to starting the culling.
Universal Ostrich Farms, situated close to the community of Edgewood, was first ordered in May to eradicate close to 400 ostriches, due to concerns of an outbreak of bird flu.
Just days ago, authorities took over of the business.
Sixty-nine birds have already died after the emergence of a flu-like illness.
Midweek, the nation’s top court issued an interim stay on the cull order as it considered whether to take up the matter.
Political and Societal Reactions
The increasing controversy over the birds – and a simmering distrust of government – have inspired demonstrators to descend on the property, with many expressing their frustration on online platforms.
The situation has also entered Canada’s federal politics.
In early October, the Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre, was asked twice by journalists whether he supported the demonstrators.
The Tory leader has avoided making direct statements on the matter, even though many within his party protesting against the cull.
He informed the press the situation had been “mismanaged from the very beginning” but didn’t say the word the bird’s name.
Cross-Border Interest and Offers
A number of high-profile figures from the United States have lobbied Canadian officials.
The American health chief offered to move the birds to his ranch in Florida.
An US wealthy businessman has also appealed with the authorities to rescind its cull order.
Health and Moral Debates
The national authorities said the food inspection agency was following a eradication approach in order to limit the spread of bird flu, a move in line with wider guidance from global health organizations.
However, animal advocacy groups have called on the agency to conduct additional tests on the animals to confirm they are infected.
The farm owners said that because the last bird flu death occurred on 15 January 2025, with the surviving majority seeming healthy or recovered, the flock has developed at least partial herd immunity against the virus.
They have also expressed skepticism on the extent and reliability of the tests on the birds.
Farm Representative Response
On Thursday, the farm’s spokesperson, informed the media that the agency was killing healthy birds.
“These are prehistoric animals that have endured eons, but they won’t endure the Canadian Food Inspection Agency,” she stated.
A partner said he was “afraid that there is no fairness left”.
Judicial and Agency Findings
A federal court, however, determined that permitting the ostriches to stay alive could lead to the spread of avian influenza to different species, the poultry industry – or to humans.
The authority has not said at what time it expects to begin slaughtering the ostriches.
Eradication Methods
An older agency manual, obtained under freedom of information laws, states the birds can be killed by different means, the preferred being lethal injection, which needs multiple individuals: one person to restrain the ostrich by sitting on its back, one to hold the head, and a third to administer the injection.
Personnel can also use gas chambers or break the birds’ necks.
Members of the agency can only shoot the ostriches in extreme circumstances, if they have a trained shooter on site.
Recent Updates
As per reports, shortly after the court ruling, agency workers started installing more equipment and bright lights around a makeshift pen near the rear of the bird enclosure.