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The nation’s food inspection agency stated it intends to start a total removal of numerous ostriches at a ranch following the supreme court refused to stop the controversial slaughter.

Judicial Impediments Cleared by Supreme Court Decision

The recent judicial decision removed any legal impediment to starting the killings.

The ostrich farm, located near the town of Edgewood, British Columbia, was first ordered in May to cull nearly 400 birds, amid fears of an spread of bird flu.

Recently, officials seized control of the business.

Sixty-nine ostriches have previously perished after the outbreak of a influenza-like sickness.

Midweek, the nation’s top court issued an interim stay 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 descend on the property, with many expressing their frustration on social media.

The case has also penetrated Canada’s federal politics.

Earlier this fall, the opposition leader, the Tory leader, was questioned repeatedly by journalists whether he supported the demonstrators.

The Tory leader has avoided making direct statements on the issue, even though many within his political group protesting against the cull.

He told the press the situation had been “mismanaged from the very beginning” but didn’t say the word “ostrich”.

International Interest and Offers

Several prominent figures from the US have petitioned authorities in Canada.

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

An American billionaire has also pleaded with the authorities to rescind its eradication directive.

Health and Moral Arguments

The Canadian federal government stated the food inspection agency was following a eradication approach in order to contain the spread of avian flu, a step in line with wider guidance from international health bodies.

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

The farm owners claimed that because the last bird flu death occurred on 15 January 2025, with the surviving majority appearing in good condition or healed, the group 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.

Ranch Spokesperson Reaction

On Thursday, the farm’s spokesperson, told the press that the agency was “murdering” healthy birds.

“They are ancient creatures that have survived millions of years, but they won’t endure the Canadian Food Inspection Agency,” she said.

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

Judicial and Agency Decisions

A national court, however, found that allowing the ostriches to remain alive could result in the transmission of bird flu to other animals, the poultry industry – or to people.

The authority has not announced at what time it expects to begin slaughtering the ostriches.

Eradication Procedures

An older guideline document, acquired under public access laws, states the birds can be killed by various methods, the recommended being lethal injection, which requires multiple individuals: one to hold the ostrich by sitting on its back, one to hold the head, and one to inject the drug.

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

Members of the organization can only shoot the ostriches in extreme circumstances, if they have a trained shooter on site.

Latest Updates

As per reports, soon after the court ruling, agency workers started installing more equipment and bright lights around a large hay-bale enclosure near the back of the ostrich pen.