A court says cull of 400 ostriches in B.C. can proceed. Here are five things to know
The Federal Court of Appeal Upholds Decision for Ostrich Cull in B.C.
The Federal Court of Appeal has ruled that a cull of approximately 400 ostriches can move forward at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, British Columbia, following an avian flu outbreak. Here are five key points to understand about the situation:
1. Court Decision Upheld
The court upheld previous rulings that supported the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s decision to cull the ostrich flock and denied the farm owners’ request for judicial review. Additionally, a plea to present new evidence, indicating the flock’s current health status, was also rejected.
2. Farmers’ Plea for Sparrow
The farmers argue that the ostrich flock has recovered from the H5N1 flu outbreak and should be spared. They claim that the surviving birds have developed “herd immunity” and are of scientific value. The farmers assert that the birds are healthy, pose no threat, and request for them to be tested.
3. CFIA Stance on Cull
The CFIA maintains that eliminating the flock is necessary to prevent the virus from persisting and potentially mutating into a more infectious strain. Even if the ostriches appear healthy, they could still transmit disease. The agency points out that the virus strain detected in the birds has not been identified elsewhere in Canada and contains a genotype linked to human infection in the United States.
4. Next Steps for Farmers
Farm spokeswoman Katie Pasitney intends to pursue a new court stay against the ruling and may consider appealing to the Supreme Court of Canada. She has also called upon supporters to gather at the farm to peacefully protect the flock from the cull.
5. Cull Timeline
While the CFIA has not disclosed specific details regarding the cull schedule, it has stated that plans for humane depopulation under veterinary supervision at the affected farm are underway.
This updated report by The Canadian Press was originally published on August 22, 2025.
The Canadian Press
