Ostrich Cull in British Columbia Amid Bird Flu Concerns
A significant culling operation has been executed in Edgewood, British Columbia, as all ostriches on a local farm were euthanized due to concerns over a bird flu outbreak. The action, carried out by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), was completed using a professional marksman in what authorities described as a humane manner.
The farm owners had been embroiled in a legal battle against the 10-month-old cull order, arguing that the remaining ostriches displayed no symptoms of illness. Despite these efforts, the Supreme Court of Canada chose not to hear their final appeal, thereby removing any legal barriers to the cull.
Prominent figures, including U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Dr. Mehmet Oz, former TV personality and current administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, had urged reconsideration of the cull. Dr. Oz even offered his Florida ranch as a potential relocation site for the birds.
On the ground, the aftermath of the cull was evident as the holding pens that once housed the ostriches were empty, except for blue tarpaulins and black sheeting covering objects on the ground. The CFIA, overseeing the process, reported the flock numbered between 300 and 330 ostriches, with veterinary supervision present during the operation.
The shooting began Thursday evening and continued into the night. Janice Tyndall, a supporter of the farm, described the experience as distressing, stating that she had to leave after listening for a couple of hours. In a social media post, farm spokeswoman Katie Pasitney expressed the owners’ devastation over the event.
The farm owners contended that the ostriches were healthy and possessed “herd immunity,” suggesting their potential value for scientific research. They had requested testing for infection, a proposal the CFIA declined, citing the risk of the virus mutating if the flock was exposed to wildlife. The farmers may receive compensation up to $3,000 Canadian (approximately US$2,136) per ostrich.
