Government Pushes On with ‘Complete Depopulation’ Plan to Cull 400 Ostriches
The nation’s food safety authority has announced it aims to initiate a total removal of hundreds of these large birds at a ranch following the country’s top court declined to halt the contentious cull.
Legal Obstacles Cleared by Supreme Court Decision
On Thursday removed any legal impediment to beginning the slaughter.
The ostrich farm, located near the town of Edgewood, British Columbia, was first ordered in May to cull close to 400 ostriches, due to fears of an outbreak of avian influenza.
Earlier this week, authorities took over of the operation.
Sixty-nine birds have previously perished after the emergence of a influenza-like sickness.
On Wednesday, the nation’s top court issued an temporary halt on the cull order as it considered whether to hear the case.
Political and Societal Reactions
The growing row over the birds – and a lingering distrust of government – have inspired protesters to descend on the farm, with many expressing their anger on social media.
The case has also penetrated Canada’s federal politics.
In early October, the opposition leader, the Tory leader, was questioned twice by journalists whether he supported the demonstrators.
The Conservative figure has avoided making direct statements on the issue, even though many within his political group protesting against the slaughter.
He told the press the situation had been “mismanaged from the very beginning” but didn’t say the word “ostrich”.
International Involvement and Offers
Several prominent figures from the US have lobbied authorities in Canada.
The US health secretary offered to move the birds to his ranch in the Sunshine State.
An American wealthy businessman has also appealed with the Canadian government to rescind its eradication directive.
Scientific and Moral Debates
The Canadian federal government said the food inspection agency was following a eradication policy in order to contain the transmission of bird flu, a move in line with broader guidance from international health bodies.
However, animal advocacy groups have called on the agency to conduct additional tests on the animals to confirm they are infected.
The farm owners claimed that because the last bird flu death happened on January 15th, with the remaining birds appearing healthy or recovered, the group has developed at least some level of immunity against H5N1.
They have also expressed skepticism on the scope and effectiveness of testing on the birds.
Ranch Representative Reaction
Recently, the ranch representative, told the media that the agency was “murdering” healthy birds.
“These are ancient creatures that have endured eons, but they won’t survive the Canadian Food Inspection Agency,” she said.
A co-owner expressed he was concerned that there is no fairness left”.
Court and Agency Decisions
A national court, however, determined that permitting the ostriches to stay alive could result in the transmission of avian influenza to different species, the poultry industry – or to humans.
The agency has not announced when it expects to begin culling the ostriches.
Culling Procedures
A 2016 agency manual, acquired under public access laws, says ostriches can be killed by different means, the recommended being lethal injection, which needs three people: one person to restrain the bird by restraining it, another to secure the head, and one to inject the drug.
Staff can also use gas or neck dislocation.
Employees of the organization can only shoot the birds “as a last resort”, if they have a trained shooter on the premises.
Recent Developments
According to reports, shortly after the judicial decision, inspection agents started installing more equipment and bright lights around a makeshift pen near the rear of the bird enclosure.