Animal Justice Calls for New Tests, Urges CFIA to Stop Planned Ostrich Cull
Animal Justice has appealed to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to perform fresh tests for avian influenza and to abandon its plan to cull around 400 ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, British Columbia. The request follows the Supreme Court of Canada's decision not to hear the farm’s appeal.
Just before the Court’s ruling, Animal Justice sent a formal letter urging the CFIA to avoid what it describes as an irreversible and unnecessary act, asking instead for renewed and independent disease testing.
Concerns Over Outdated Testing
Experts in infectious disease have questioned whether the mass culling remains warranted, suggesting that updated testing could reveal the ostriches no longer pose a threat. According to Animal Justice, no new testing has been conducted since December 2024, when the initial avian flu outbreak was announced.
Public Trust and Ethical Implications
The group warned that proceeding with the slaughter of hundreds of seemingly healthy birds without clear and contemporary evidence could damage the CFIA’s public credibility.
“More than 10 months after an avian influenza outbreak was declared, it would be remarkably cruel to kill hundreds of apparently healthy birds just to prove a point,” said Camille Labchuk, lawyer and executive director of Animal Justice.
Author’s Summary
Animal Justice urges the CFIA to suspend the ostrich cull and retest for avian flu, arguing that unverified mass killing would be both unethical and damaging to public trust.