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The nation’s food inspection agency revealed it aims to start a total removal of numerous ostriches at a farm following the country’s top court declined to stop the contentious cull.

Legal Obstacles Removed by Supreme Court Decision

The recent judicial decision eliminated any legal barrier to beginning the culling.

The ostrich farm, located near the town of Edgewood, was initially directed in the month of May to cull close to 400 ostriches, amid concerns of an outbreak of avian influenza.

Just days ago, officials seized control of the operation.

Nearly seventy birds have previously perished after the emergence of a influenza-like sickness.

Midweek, Canada’s supreme court issued an interim stay on the eradication directive as it considered whether to hear the case.

Political and Public Responses

The increasing controversy over the birds – and a simmering distrust of government – have inspired demonstrators to gather at the property, with many broadcasting their frustration on social media.

The case has also penetrated Canada’s federal politics.

Earlier this fall, the opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre, was asked twice by journalists whether he backed protesters.

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 informed the press the issue had been “mismanaged from the very beginning” but avoided mentioning the word the bird’s name.

International Involvement and Proposals

A number of high-profile figures from the US have petitioned authorities in Canada.

The American health chief proposed to relocate the ostriches to his property in Florida.

An US wealthy businessman has also appealed with the Canadian government to reverse its eradication directive.

Scientific and Moral Debates

The Canadian federal government said the relevant agency was adhering to a eradication approach in order to contain the transmission of avian flu, a step in line with broader guidance from international health bodies.

However, animal rights organizations have called on the authority 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 surviving majority seeming healthy or recovered, the group has acquired at least partial herd immunity against the virus.

They have also cast doubt on the scope and reliability of the tests on the birds.

Ranch Spokesperson Response

Recently, the ranch representative, informed the media that the authority was killing healthy birds.

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

A co-owner expressed he was “afraid there’s – in my opinion – there’s no fairness left”.

Court and Authority Findings

A federal court, however, found that permitting the ostriches to remain alive could lead to the spread of avian influenza to different species, the poultry industry – or to people.

The agency has not announced when it plans to start slaughtering the ostriches.

Eradication Methods

A 2016 guideline document, acquired under public access laws, states ostriches can be euthanized by various methods, the recommended being injection, which requires multiple individuals: one person to restrain the bird by restraining it, one to hold the head, and one to inject the drug.

Personnel can also use gas or neck dislocation.

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

Recent Developments

According to reports, soon after the court ruling, agency workers began setting up more equipment and flood lighting around a large hay-bale enclosure near the back of the ostrich pen.