Government Proceeds with Full Eradication Plan to Cull 400 Ostriches
The nation’s food inspection agency revealed it plans to initiate a “complete depopulation” of numerous ostriches at a ranch after the supreme court refused to halt the disputed slaughter.
Legal Impediments Removed by Supreme Court Decision
On Thursday eliminated all legal barrier to commencing the slaughter.
Universal Ostrich Farms, located close to the community of Edgewood, was first ordered in the month of May to eradicate close to 400 ostriches, due to fears of an outbreak of H5N1 avian flu.
Just days ago, officials seized control 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 take up the matter.
Political and Public Responses
The escalating dispute over the birds – and a lingering distrust of government – have motivated protesters to descend on the property, with many expressing their anger on social media.
The case has also entered Canada’s federal politics.
In early October, the opposition leader, the Tory leader, was asked repeatedly by reporters whether he supported protesters.
The Tory leader has avoided making specific comments on the issue, even though many within his political group protesting against the slaughter.
He told the press the issue had been poorly handled from the start but avoided mentioning the word the bird’s name.
International Involvement and Offers
A number of prominent figures from the United States have lobbied Canadian officials.
The American health chief offered to move the birds to his property in the Sunshine State.
An US wealthy businessman has also pleaded with the authorities to reverse its eradication directive.
Health and Ethical Arguments
The national authorities said the relevant agency was adhering to a eradication approach in order to limit the transmission of avian flu, a step consistent with broader advice from international health bodies.
However, animal rights organizations have called on the authority to conduct additional tests on the animals to verify they are carrying the virus.
The ranch operators claimed that because the last bird flu death happened on January 15th, with the remaining birds seeming healthy or recovered, the group has acquired at least partial herd immunity against H5N1.
They have also cast doubt on the extent and reliability of testing on the birds.
Farm Spokesperson Response
Recently, the farm’s spokesperson, informed the press that the authority was “murdering” healthy birds.
“These are prehistoric animals that have survived eons, but they won’t endure the Canadian Food Inspection Agency,” she said.
A partner expressed he was “afraid that there is no justice left”.
Court and Authority Decisions
A national court, however, found that allowing the birds to remain alive could lead to the transmission of avian influenza to other animals, the livestock sector – or to humans.
The authority has not said at what time it plans to start slaughtering the ostriches.
Culling Procedures
A 2016 agency manual, acquired under freedom of information laws, says ostriches can be killed by different means, the recommended being injection, which needs three people: one to hold 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 neck dislocation.
Members of the organization can only shoot the birds “as a last resort”, if they have a trained shooter on site.
Latest Updates
According to reports, soon after the judicial decision, agency workers began setting up more equipment and flood lighting around a large hay-bale enclosure near the back of the ostrich pen.