Authorities Pushes On with ‘Complete Depopulation’ Plan to Cull 400 Flightless Birds

Canada’s food safety authority revealed it plans to start a “complete depopulation” of numerous ostriches at a farm after the highest judicial body refused to block the contentious slaughter.

Legal Impediments Cleared by Court Ruling

The recent judicial decision removed any legal barrier to starting the killings.

The ostrich farm, located near the community of Edgewood, British Columbia, was first ordered in May to eradicate almost four hundred birds, due to 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 emergence of a flu-like illness.

Midweek, the nation’s top court issued an interim stay on the eradication directive as it weighed whether to take up the matter.

Political and Societal Responses

The growing row over the ostriches – and a lingering distrust of government – have inspired demonstrators to gather at the property, with many expressing their anger on social media.

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

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

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

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

International Involvement and Proposals

A number of prominent individuals from the United States have petitioned Canadian officials.

The US health secretary offered to relocate the ostriches to his ranch in the Sunshine State.

An US billionaire has also appealed with the Canadian government to reverse its eradication directive.

Scientific and Ethical Arguments

The Canadian federal government said the relevant agency was adhering to a “stamping out” approach in order to contain the transmission of bird flu, a move consistent with broader advice from global health organizations.

However, animal advocacy groups have urged the authority to conduct additional tests on the animals to verify they are carrying the virus.

The ranch operators said that because the last bird flu death happened on 15 January 2025, with the surviving majority appearing healthy or healed, the flock has acquired at least some level of immunity against H5N1.

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

Farm Representative Reaction

On Thursday, the farm’s spokesperson, told the media that the authority was “murdering” birds in good health.

“These are ancient creatures that have survived eons, but they won’t survive the government agency,” she said.

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

Court and Authority Decisions

A federal court, on the other hand, found that allowing the ostriches to remain alive could lead to the spread of avian influenza to other animals, the livestock sector – or to people.

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

Culling Procedures

A 2016 agency manual, obtained under freedom of information laws, states ostriches can be killed by different means, the preferred being injection, which requires multiple individuals: one person to restrain the bird by sitting on its back, another to secure the head, and one to inject the drug.

Personnel can also use gas chambers or neck dislocation.

Members of the agency can only use firearms on the ostriches in extreme circumstances, if they have a “skilled marksman” on the premises.

Latest Developments

According to reports, soon after the court ruling, agency workers began setting up additional gear and flood lighting around a makeshift pen near the rear of the ostrich pen.