🔗 Share this article

The nation’s food inspection agency has announced it intends to start a total removal of hundreds of ostriches at a farm following the country’s top court refused to stop the controversial cull.

Judicial Impediments Cleared by Supreme Court Decision

The recent judicial decision eliminated all judicial obstacle to starting the culling.

The ostrich farm, situated close to the town of Edgewood, was first ordered in the month of May to eradicate almost four hundred birds, amid concerns of an outbreak of avian influenza.

Earlier this week, authorities took over of the business.

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

On Wednesday, Canada’s supreme court granted an temporary halt on the eradication directive as it weighed whether to hear the case.

Governmental and Societal Reactions

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

The situation has also penetrated Canada’s federal politics.

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

The Tory leader has avoided making specific comments on the matter, despite many within his political group voicing opposition against the slaughter.

He told the press the issue had been poorly handled from the start but avoided mentioning the word “ostrich”.

International Interest and Offers

Several high-profile figures from the United States have petitioned authorities in Canada.

The US health secretary proposed to move the birds to his property in the Sunshine State.

An American billionaire has also pleaded with the Canadian government to rescind its cull order.

Scientific and Moral Debates

The national authorities stated the food inspection agency was adhering to a eradication approach in order to limit the transmission of avian flu, a move in line with broader advice from global health organizations.

However, animal advocacy groups have called on the authority to conduct further testing on the animals to verify they are infected.

The farm owners said that because the most recent fatality happened on January 15th, with the surviving majority seeming healthy or healed, the flock has developed at least some level of immunity against the virus.

They have also expressed skepticism on the extent and effectiveness of the tests on the birds.

Farm Spokesperson Response

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

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

A partner said he was “afraid that there is no fairness left”.

Judicial and Authority Findings

A federal court, however, determined that permitting the ostriches to remain alive could lead to 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 begin slaughtering the birds.

Eradication Methods

A 2016 guideline document, acquired under freedom of information laws, says the birds can be euthanized by different means, the preferred being injection, which requires three people: one person to restrain the ostrich by restraining it, another to secure the head, and one to inject the drug.

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

Members of the agency can only use firearms on the ostriches in extreme circumstances, if they have a trained shooter on the premises.

Latest Developments

As per reports, soon after the judicial decision, inspection agents began setting up more equipment and flood lighting around a large hay-bale enclosure near the rear of the bird enclosure.