🔗 Share this article Government Proceeds with Full Eradication Strategy to Slaughter 400 Flightless Birds Canada’s food inspection agency revealed it intends to begin a “complete depopulation” of hundreds of these large birds at a farm after the supreme court refused to halt the contentious slaughter. Judicial Impediments Removed by Supreme Court Decision The recent judicial decision eliminated all legal impediment to starting the slaughter. Universal Ostrich Farms, located near the town of Edgewood, was initially directed in the month of May to cull nearly 400 birds, due to fears of an spread of H5N1 avian flu. Recently, authorities took over of the business. Sixty-nine birds have already died after the emergence of a flu-like illness. Midweek, the nation’s top court issued an interim stay on the cull order as it weighed whether to take up the matter. Political and Public Reactions The escalating dispute over the ostriches – and a simmering post-pandemic skepticism – have inspired demonstrators to gather at the property, with many broadcasting their frustration on social media. The situation has also entered Canada’s federal politics. In early October, the opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre, was asked twice by journalists whether he backed the demonstrators. The Conservative figure has avoided making specific comments on the matter, despite many within his political group protesting against the slaughter. He informed reporters the issue had been “mismanaged from the very beginning” but avoided mentioning the word “ostrich”. International Interest and Offers A number of prominent figures from the US have petitioned Canadian officials. The American health chief offered to move the ostriches to his ranch in the Sunshine State. An US wealthy businessman has also pleaded with the Canadian government to reverse its eradication directive. Health and Moral Debates The national authorities stated the food inspection agency was following a eradication policy in order to contain the transmission of avian flu, a step consistent with wider advice from international health bodies. However, animal advocacy groups have called on the authority to perform further testing on the birds to confirm they are infected. The farm owners said that because the last bird flu death occurred on January 15th, with the remaining birds seeming healthy or recovered, the group has developed at least some level of immunity against H5N1. They have also cast doubt on the extent and effectiveness of testing on the ostriches. Farm Representative Response On Thursday, the farm’s spokesperson, told the press that the agency was killing healthy birds. “They are ancient creatures that have endured millions of years, but they won’t endure the Canadian Food Inspection Agency,” she said. A co-owner said he was “afraid that there is no fairness left”. Judicial and Agency Findings A national court, on the other hand, found that allowing the birds to remain alive could result in the transmission of bird flu to other animals, the poultry industry – or to people. The authority has not said at what time it expects to begin slaughtering the ostriches. Eradication Procedures A 2016 guideline document, acquired under public access laws, states the birds can be euthanized by various methods, 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 a third to administer the injection. Personnel can also use gas chambers or break the birds’ necks. Employees of the agency can only use firearms on the birds in extreme circumstances, if they have a trained shooter on the premises. Latest Developments According to media sources, shortly after the judicial decision, agency workers started installing more equipment and flood lighting around a makeshift pen near the back of the ostrich pen.