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The nation’s food safety authority stated it intends to initiate a “complete depopulation” of hundreds of ostriches at a farm after the country’s top court refused to halt the controversial slaughter.

Legal Obstacles Cleared by Court Ruling

Thursday’s ruling removed any judicial obstacle to beginning the killings.

Universal Ostrich Farms, located near the town of Edgewood, British Columbia, was first ordered in the month of May to cull close to 400 ostriches, amid concerns of an spread of avian influenza.

Recently, officials seized control of the business.

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

On Wednesday, the nation’s top court granted an interim stay on the cull order as it considered whether to take up the matter.

Governmental and Societal Reactions

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

The situation has also penetrated Canada’s federal politics.

Earlier this fall, the Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre, was asked repeatedly by reporters whether he backed protesters.

The Tory leader has steered clear of making direct statements on the issue, even though many within his political group voicing opposition against the slaughter.

He informed reporters the issue had been “mismanaged from the very beginning” but avoided mentioning the word “ostrich”.

Cross-Border Interest and Proposals

A number of high-profile figures from the US have lobbied authorities in Canada.

The American health chief offered to relocate the ostriches to his property in Florida.

An American billionaire has also appealed with the Canadian government to rescind its cull order.

Health and Moral Debates

The Canadian federal government stated the relevant agency was following a eradication policy in order to limit the transmission of avian flu, a move consistent with wider advice from international health bodies.

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

The ranch operators claimed that because the last bird flu death occurred on January 15th, with the surviving majority seeming healthy or recovered, the group has developed at least partial herd immunity against H5N1.

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

Ranch Representative Reaction

Recently, the farm’s spokesperson, told the press that the authority was killing birds in good health.

“These are ancient creatures that have survived eons, but they won’t endure the Canadian Food Inspection Agency,” she said.

A partner said he was “afraid there’s – in my opinion – there’s no fairness left”.

Judicial and Authority Decisions

A national court, on the other hand, found that permitting the ostriches to remain alive could lead to the spread of avian influenza to different species, the poultry industry – or to humans.

The agency has not said at what time it expects to begin culling the ostriches.

Eradication Procedures

A 2016 agency manual, obtained under freedom of information laws, says ostriches can be killed by different means, the preferred being lethal injection, which needs three people: one to hold the ostrich by restraining it, another to secure the head, and a third to administer the injection.

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

Employees of the agency can only shoot the ostriches “as a last resort”, if they have a “skilled marksman” on the premises.

Latest Developments

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 rear of the bird enclosure.