From Flu Outbreak to ‘Ostrichfest’ to High Court: How B.C. Ostrich Cull Saga Unfolded
Background
Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, British Columbia, Canada, has been fighting for over 10 months against a cull order from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) that would lead to the death of hundreds of ostriches. The Supreme Court of Canada announced on Thursday morning that it will not hear a final appeal, allowing the cull to proceed.
Key Events Timeline
Early December 2024
- An outbreak of “flu-like” symptoms occurs among the ostriches, resulting in the deaths of 25 to 30 birds within three weeks.
- December 28: The CFIA intervenes after an anonymous report about the deaths, imposing a verbal quarantine on the farm; these deaths had previously gone unreported.
- December 31: Tests on two carcasses return positive for H5 avian influenza, later confirmed as H5N1.
- Within minutes of test results, the CFIA issues a cull order, setting February 1 as the deadline to dispose of all affected birds.
January 2025
- January 4-9: The farm requests an exemption from the cull, citing that the ostriches possess “rare and valuable genetics” worthy of protection.
- January 10: CFIA denies the exemption request.
- January 15: The farm reports the last ostrich death, totaling 69 birds lost since the outbreak began.
- January 31: The Federal Court issues a stay on the cull order while reviewing the farm’s application for judicial review.
“The ostriches have ‘rare and valuable genetics’ worthy of preservation,” said the farm in its exemption request.
Current Status
The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the final appeal clears the way for the cull to proceed as ordered by the CFIA.
Author’s summary: The prolonged legal battle over a suspected avian influenza outbreak at a B.C. ostrich farm ends as the Supreme Court permits a controversial cull to move forward, despite claims to protect rare genetics.