Canada’s government will cull over 300 ostriches at a British Columbia farm after some birds were found infected with bird flu, following the Supreme Court’s decision to reject an appeal to spare them.
The Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood argued the birds had survived an earlier infection detected in December 2024 and developed immunity. However, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) maintained that culling infected flocks is standard procedure.
The case drew support from high-profile figures, including former U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and members of the “Freedom Convoy” movement, who protested the CFIA’s euthanasia order.
“The CFIA has respected all court orders and expects the farm owners and supporters to do the same,” the agency said in a statement.
Avian influenza, or bird flu, is highly contagious among birds and can spread to mammals, including humans. The CFIA has been overseeing and caring for the ostriches since September, with police assisting in maintaining security at the site. Four people have been arrested for allegedly obstructing CFIA operations.
