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Canada’s food inspection agency stated it plans to initiate a “complete depopulation” of numerous ostriches at a ranch after the highest judicial body declined to block the contentious slaughter.

Legal Impediments Cleared by Court Ruling

On Thursday removed any judicial obstacle to commencing the slaughter.

The ostrich farm, located near the community of Edgewood, was first ordered in May to cull nearly 400 birds, due to fears of an outbreak of bird flu.

Recently, authorities took over of the business.

Nearly seventy birds have already died after the outbreak of a influenza-like sickness.

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

Governmental and Public Reactions

The increasing controversy over the birds – and a lingering distrust of government – have motivated demonstrators to descend on the property, with many expressing their anger on social media.

The situation has also entered Canada’s federal politics.

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

The Tory leader has steered clear of making specific comments 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 didn’t say the word “ostrich”.

International Involvement and Offers

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

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

An American wealthy businessman has also appealed with the authorities to reverse its cull order.

Scientific and Moral Debates

The national authorities said the food inspection agency was adhering to a eradication policy in order to limit the spread of avian flu, a move in line with broader guidance from global health organizations.

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

The farm owners claimed that because the most recent fatality occurred on 15 January 2025, with the surviving majority seeming in good condition or recovered, the flock has developed at least some level of immunity against H5N1.

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

Ranch Representative Reaction

Recently, the ranch representative, told the press that the agency was killing healthy birds.

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

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

Judicial and Agency Decisions

A federal court, however, determined that allowing the ostriches to remain alive could lead to the transmission of avian influenza to different species, the livestock sector – or to humans.

The authority has not announced when it expects to begin slaughtering the ostriches.

Eradication Methods

A 2016 agency manual, obtained under freedom of information laws, states ostriches can be euthanized by various methods, the recommended being injection, which requires multiple individuals: one to hold the bird by restraining it, one to hold the head, and a third to administer the injection.

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

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

Recent Updates

According to reports, soon after the judicial decision, agency workers started installing more equipment and flood lighting around a large hay-bale enclosure near the back of the bird enclosure.