Canadian authorities have begun enforcing a court-ordered cull of approximately 400 ostriches at a farm in British Columbia following an outbreak of avian influenza. The decision follows several months of legal battles between the farm owners and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), which maintains that the action is necessary to prevent further spread of the virus. The CFIA arrived at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood on Monday with RCMP officers, waste removal trucks, and warrants to enter the property and seize the birds.
The move comes after federal courts dismissed the farm’s legal efforts to halt the cull. The agency is proceeding under its authority to respond to notifiable diseases under the Health of Animals Act. According to the CFIA, laboratory-confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza, H5N1, were detected in the ostrich population last year. Since December, 69 birds on the farm have died due to the virus. The CFIA said remaining birds may still carry and shed the virus, posing a risk to animal and human health as well as to Canada’s agricultural sector and trade obligations.
Officials have noted that avian influenza can spread rapidly across bird populations and may be transmitted through direct or indirect contact with infected animals or contaminated surfaces. Federal court rulings upheld the CFIA’s mandate to proceed with depopulation measures. The court determined that the applicants failed to demonstrate a serious case for judicial review and ruled that the agency had acted within its legal and regulatory framework in ordering the cull.
Federal court rules in favor of CFIA over ostrich culling orders
The owners have until October 3 to seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, but the filing of such an application does not automatically delay enforcement actions. The farm, which is co-owned by Tom and Judy Pringle, has argued that the ostriches currently show no signs of illness and that the outbreak has subsided. However, government veterinary officials maintain that even asymptomatic birds can carry the virus and contribute to its spread.
The CFIA has stated that its response is guided by science-based protocols developed to manage animal disease outbreaks in accordance with national and international standards. Protests erupted outside the farm as enforcement operations began, drawing supporters of the farm who have called for the birds to be spared. Among the protesters were several public figures and scientists who have suggested that the birds may have developed natural resistance to the virus and could be of interest for future research.
Ostriches reportedly asymptomatic at time of enforcement
The CFIA has not confirmed whether such proposals were formally reviewed. The depopulation process involves humane euthanasia methods approved by the World Organisation for Animal Health. The CFIA has not released specific details on the timeline or logistics of the operation, citing safety and operational concerns. The case has drawn national and international attention due to the scale of the cull and the species involved. Ostriches are not commonly associated with avian influenza outbreaks, which typically affect poultry species such as chickens, turkeys, and ducks.
However, the CFIA has confirmed that the virus does not discriminate by bird type and that all infected or exposed birds, regardless of species, must be addressed under the same disease control protocols. Canada has reported multiple avian influenza outbreaks across several provinces since 2022, with millions of domestic birds affected. The CFIA’s response includes quarantines, movement controls, and in certain cases, mass culling to prevent further transmission. The agency continues to monitor farms and wild bird populations for signs of the virus. – By Content Syndication Services.