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The nation’s food safety authority revealed it aims to initiate a “complete depopulation” of hundreds of these large birds at a farm following the country’s top court declined to halt the controversial cull.

Legal Obstacles Cleared by Court Ruling

The recent judicial decision removed all legal barrier to starting the culling.

Universal Ostrich Farms, situated close to the community of Edgewood, British Columbia, was initially directed in May to cull almost four hundred birds, amid concerns of an spread of avian influenza.

Recently, authorities took over of the operation.

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

Midweek, Canada’s supreme court issued an interim stay on the cull order as it considered whether to take up the matter.

Political and Public Reactions

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

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

In early October, the opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre, was questioned twice by journalists whether he backed protesters.

The Tory leader has avoided making specific comments on the matter, despite many within his political group voicing opposition against the cull.

He informed reporters the issue had been poorly handled from the start but avoided mentioning the word the bird’s name.

Cross-Border Involvement and Offers

A number of prominent individuals from the United States have lobbied authorities in Canada.

The US health secretary proposed to move the ostriches to his property in the Sunshine State.

An American wealthy businessman has also appealed with the authorities to reverse its eradication directive.

Scientific and Ethical Arguments

The national authorities said the relevant agency was following a “stamping out” policy in order to limit the transmission of avian flu, a move in line with broader guidance from global health organizations.

However, animal rights organizations have called on the agency to perform additional tests on the birds to confirm they are infected.

The ranch operators claimed that because the last bird flu death occurred on 15 January 2025, with the surviving majority seeming in good condition or recovered, the flock has acquired at least partial herd immunity against the virus.

They have also cast doubt on the scope and effectiveness of the tests on the ostriches.

Farm Representative Reaction

On Thursday, the ranch representative, told the media that the authority was killing birds in good health.

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

A co-owner said he was “afraid there’s – in my opinion – there’s no justice left”.

Judicial and Agency Decisions

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

The authority has not said at what time it plans to begin slaughtering the birds.

Eradication Methods

An older agency manual, obtained under public access laws, states ostriches can be euthanized by different means, the recommended being lethal injection, which needs three people: one person to restrain the ostrich by sitting on its back, another to secure the head, and one to inject the drug.

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

Members of the organization can only shoot the birds in extreme circumstances, if they have a “skilled marksman” on the premises.

Recent Developments

As per reports, soon after the judicial decision, agency workers began setting up additional gear and bright lights around a large hay-bale enclosure near the rear of the bird enclosure.