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Canada’s food safety authority revealed it intends to begin a “complete depopulation” of numerous ostriches at a ranch after the country’s top court declined to block the contentious slaughter.

Legal Impediments Removed by Court Ruling

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

Universal Ostrich Farms, located close to the town of Edgewood, was first ordered in the month of May to cull close to 400 ostriches, due to concerns of an outbreak of bird flu.

Recently, officials seized control of the operation.

Nearly seventy birds have already died after the emergence of a flu-like illness.

On Wednesday, Canada’s supreme court granted an interim stay on the eradication directive as it considered whether to take up the matter.

Governmental and Public Responses

The escalating dispute over the ostriches – and a lingering post-pandemic skepticism – have inspired protesters to descend on the property, with many broadcasting their anger on online platforms.

The case has also entered the nation’s political sphere.

In early October, the Conservative leader, the Tory leader, was asked repeatedly by journalists whether he backed protesters.

The Tory leader has steered clear of making specific comments on the issue, despite many within his political group voicing opposition against the slaughter.

He told the press the issue had been poorly handled from the start but didn’t say the word the bird’s name.

Cross-Border Interest and Offers

Several prominent figures from the United States have lobbied authorities in Canada.

The US health secretary offered to move the birds to his ranch in the Sunshine State.

An US wealthy businessman has also pleaded with the authorities to reverse its cull order.

Health and Ethical Arguments

The Canadian federal government said the food inspection agency was following a “stamping out” policy in order to contain the transmission of avian flu, a step consistent with broader advice from global health organizations.

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

The ranch operators claimed that because the last bird flu death happened on 15 January 2025, with the remaining birds seeming healthy or healed, the flock has acquired at least partial herd immunity against the virus.

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

Ranch Spokesperson Reaction

Recently, the ranch representative, informed the press that the authority was killing healthy birds.

“These are prehistoric animals that have survived eons, but they will not endure the government agency,” she stated.

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

Judicial and Agency Findings

A national court, however, found that permitting the ostriches to stay alive could lead to the transmission of bird flu to different species, the livestock sector – or to people.

The authority has not said when it plans to begin culling the ostriches.

Eradication Methods

An older agency manual, obtained under freedom of information laws, says the birds can be euthanized by different means, the preferred being lethal injection, which requires three people: one person to restrain the bird by sitting on its back, another to secure the head, and a third to administer the injection.

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

Members of the organization can only shoot the ostriches “as a last resort”, if they have a trained shooter on site.

Recent Developments

As per media sources, shortly after the court ruling, inspection agents began setting up additional gear and flood lighting around a makeshift pen near the back of the ostrich pen.