Judge refuses to allow more avian flu tests on ostriches at B.C. farm
Canada’s Federal Court of Appeal has made a decision regarding the fate of an ostrich farm in British Columbia that has been at the center of controversy. The owners of Universal Ostrich Farms have been fighting against a cull ordered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency due to an outbreak of avian flu on the farm.
The court has granted a temporary stay of the cull until a ruling on an appeal can be made, which is scheduled for the week of July 21. This decision comes after the farm satisfied the requirements for a temporary stay, allowing them to continue fighting for the survival of their flock of approximately 400 ostriches.
The farm had requested permission to conduct further diagnostic tests on the birds in order to potentially avert the cull, but this request was denied by Judge Sylvie Roussel. Despite this setback, the farm has been granted a temporary reprieve while they await the final ruling on their appeal.
The situation at Universal Ostrich Farms has garnered international attention, with supporters rallying to save the ostriches from being culled. Dozens of birds have already succumbed to the avian flu outbreak, prompting the food inspection agency to enforce their “stamping out” policy, which requires the culling of all birds in the affected flock.
Judge Roussel acknowledged the potential irreparable harm the farm would face if the cull were to proceed, leading to the decision to grant the temporary stay. Supporters of the farm, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have been vocal in their opposition to the cull, citing the scientific value of the ostriches as a reason to spare them.
As the legal battle continues, protesters and supporters remain at the farm in Edgewood, BC, determined to save the ostriches from their impending fate. The outcome of the appeal will ultimately determine the future of the farm and its flock, with the hopes of finding a resolution that satisfies all parties involved.
