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Canada’s food safety authority stated it plans to begin a “complete depopulation” of numerous ostriches at a farm following the highest judicial body declined to halt the contentious slaughter.

Judicial Impediments Removed by Court Ruling

Thursday’s ruling removed all legal barrier to beginning the slaughter.

The ostrich farm, situated near the community of Edgewood, British Columbia, was initially directed in May to cull nearly 400 birds, due to fears of an spread of avian influenza.

Recently, officials seized control of the business.

Sixty-nine birds have already died after the outbreak of a influenza-like sickness.

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

Political and Public Responses

The escalating dispute over the birds – and a lingering post-pandemic skepticism – have inspired protesters to descend on the farm, with many expressing their anger on social media.

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

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

The Tory leader has avoided making specific comments on the issue, despite many within his party voicing opposition against the slaughter.

He informed the press the situation had been “mismanaged from the very beginning” but avoided mentioning the word the bird’s name.

Cross-Border Involvement and Proposals

A number of prominent figures from the US have lobbied authorities in Canada.

The US health secretary proposed to relocate the ostriches to his ranch in Florida.

An US billionaire has also pleaded with the authorities to rescind its cull order.

Scientific and Moral Arguments

The Canadian federal government said the food inspection agency was following a eradication approach in order to contain the transmission of avian flu, a move consistent with wider guidance from international health bodies.

However, animal advocacy groups have urged the authority to conduct further testing on the animals to confirm they are carrying the virus.

The farm owners claimed that because the most recent fatality occurred on January 15th, with the remaining birds appearing healthy or healed, the flock has acquired at least some level of immunity against H5N1.

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

Ranch Spokesperson Reaction

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

“They are prehistoric animals that have endured eons, but they will not endure the Canadian Food Inspection Agency,” she stated.

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

Judicial and Agency Decisions

A national court, on the other hand, found that permitting the ostriches to stay alive could result in the transmission of bird flu to different species, the livestock sector – or to people.

The authority has not announced when it expects to start culling the ostriches.

Culling Methods

A 2016 guideline document, acquired under public access laws, says the birds can be euthanized by various methods, the preferred being injection, which requires three people: one person to restrain the ostrich by sitting on its back, another to secure the head, and one to inject the drug.

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 Updates

According to reports, soon after the judicial decision, inspection agents started installing more equipment and bright lights around a makeshift pen near the back of the bird enclosure.