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Canada’s food safety authority stated it aims to begin a total removal of numerous ostriches at a ranch after the supreme court declined to halt the contentious slaughter.

Legal Obstacles Removed by Supreme Court Decision

The recent judicial decision removed any judicial obstacle to commencing the slaughter.

The ostrich farm, located near the town of Edgewood, was first ordered in the month of May to cull nearly 400 birds, amid fears of an outbreak of H5N1 avian flu.

Earlier this week, authorities took over of the operation.

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

Midweek, Canada’s supreme court granted an temporary halt on the cull order as it weighed whether to hear the case.

Political and Societal Reactions

The increasing controversy over the ostriches – and a lingering distrust of government – have motivated demonstrators to gather at the farm, with many expressing their anger on online platforms.

The situation has also penetrated the nation’s political sphere.

Earlier this fall, the opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre, was questioned repeatedly by reporters whether he backed the demonstrators.

The Conservative figure has avoided making direct statements on the issue, despite many within his party protesting against the slaughter.

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

Cross-Border Interest and Proposals

Several high-profile individuals from the US have lobbied authorities in Canada.

The American health chief offered to move the ostriches to his ranch in Florida.

An US wealthy businessman has also appealed with the Canadian government to rescind its eradication directive.

Scientific and Moral Arguments

The Canadian federal government said the food inspection agency was adhering to a eradication policy in order to contain the transmission of avian flu, a move in line with wider guidance from global health organizations.

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

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

They have also cast doubt on the extent and effectiveness of testing on the ostriches.

Ranch Representative Reaction

On Thursday, the farm’s spokesperson, informed the media that the agency was killing birds in good health.

“These are prehistoric animals that have survived millions of years, but they won’t survive the Canadian Food Inspection Agency,” she stated.

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

Judicial and Authority Decisions

A national court, however, found that allowing the ostriches to remain alive could result in the spread of bird flu to other animals, the livestock sector – or to humans.

The agency has not announced at what time it expects to begin culling the ostriches.

Culling Procedures

A 2016 agency manual, acquired under public access laws, states ostriches can be euthanized by different means, the recommended being lethal injection, which needs multiple individuals: one person to restrain the bird by restraining it, one to hold the head, and a third to administer the injection.

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

Members of the organization can only shoot the birds “as a last resort”, if they have a “skilled marksman” on the premises.

Latest Developments

According to reports, shortly after the judicial decision, agency workers started installing additional gear and bright lights around a makeshift pen near the back of the ostrich pen.