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Canada’s food safety authority has announced it plans to begin a “complete depopulation” of hundreds of ostriches at a ranch after the supreme court declined to halt the disputed cull.

Judicial Obstacles Removed by Supreme Court Decision

The recent judicial decision eliminated all legal impediment to commencing the slaughter.

The ostrich farm, situated near the community of Edgewood, British Columbia, was initially directed in May to cull almost four hundred birds, due to fears of an outbreak of H5N1 avian flu.

Recently, authorities took over of the business.

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

Midweek, the nation’s top court granted an temporary halt on the cull order as it considered whether to hear the case.

Political and Societal Reactions

The growing row over the ostriches – and a lingering distrust of government – have motivated protesters to descend on the farm, with many expressing their anger on social media.

The situation has also penetrated Canada’s federal politics.

In early October, the opposition leader, the Tory leader, was asked twice by reporters whether he supported the demonstrators.

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

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

International Involvement and Offers

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

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

An American billionaire has also pleaded with the authorities to reverse its cull order.

Scientific and Ethical Debates

The national authorities said the food inspection agency was adhering to a “stamping out” policy in order to contain the transmission of avian flu, a step in line with wider guidance from international health bodies.

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

The farm owners claimed that because the last bird flu death happened on 15 January 2025, with the remaining birds appearing healthy or recovered, the group has developed at least some level of immunity against H5N1.

They have also cast doubt on the extent and reliability of the tests on the ostriches.

Ranch Representative Response

On Thursday, the ranch representative, told the media that the agency was killing birds in good health.

“These are prehistoric animals that have endured millions of years, but they will not survive the Canadian Food Inspection Agency,” she stated.

A partner said he was concerned that there is no justice left”.

Judicial and Authority Findings

A national court, however, determined that permitting the ostriches to stay alive could result in the transmission of avian influenza to other animals, the poultry industry – or to people.

The authority has not said at what time it expects to begin culling the ostriches.

Eradication Procedures

An older agency manual, acquired under public access laws, states ostriches can be euthanized by different means, the preferred being lethal injection, which needs three people: one person to restrain the ostrich by sitting on its back, one to hold the head, and one to inject the drug.

Personnel can also use gas chambers or neck dislocation.

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

Recent Updates

As per media sources, shortly after the court ruling, inspection agents started installing additional gear and flood lighting around a makeshift pen near the rear of the ostrich pen.