RFK Jr. urges Canadian health officials to spare B.C. ostrich flock from cull

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has stepped in to try and save a flock of ostriches in British Columbia that are facing a cull due to avian flu fears. Kennedy has spoken with Canadian health officials to discuss sparing the roughly 400 ostriches at Universal Ostrich in Edgewood, B.C., where two dead birds tested positive for avian flu in December 2024.

Kennedy, in a letter addressed to CFIA president Paul MacKinnon, has requested that the CFIA reconsider the decision to cull the entire flock of ostriches. He believes that there is significant value in studying this population, particularly due to the long-lived nature of ostriches and the potential antibodies they may hold against avian flu.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Food and Drug Administration Agency (FDA) have offered their full support and assistance in conducting testing and research on the ostriches at Universal Ostrich. Kennedy, along with NIH director Jay Bhattacharya and FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary, have highlighted the importance of preserving the ostriches for further study.

Despite Kennedy’s efforts, the CFIA has confirmed that the cull will proceed as planned. The agency’s stamping out policy dictates that all domestic birds at an infected premises must be depopulated to control the risk of further spread of avian flu. Universal Ostrich failed to meet the requirements for an exemption from the cull order, as the farm could not provide sufficient proof that the birds were rare or unique enough to be spared.

Supporters of Universal Ostrich, including demonstrators who have gathered at the farm, have been vocal in their opposition to the cull. However, the CFIA maintains that its policies are based on scientific research and international obligations to prevent the spread of avian flu. The agency has cited the ease with which the disease can spread to other birds as a reason for the cull.

While Kennedy and other supporters of Universal Ostrich are advocating for further testing and research on the ostriches, the CFIA remains firm in its decision to proceed with the cull. The case has sparked debate among politicians, farmers, and experts about the best course of action in the face of a highly contagious disease that poses a threat to both animals and humans.

As the situation unfolds, the fate of the ostriches at Universal Ostrich hangs in the balance. Despite efforts to save the flock, the CFIA’s stamping out policy and concerns about the potential spread of avian flu continue to drive the decision-making process.