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Canada’s food safety authority revealed it aims to initiate a “complete depopulation” of hundreds of these large birds at a ranch following the highest judicial body declined to halt the disputed slaughter.

Judicial Obstacles Removed by Court Ruling

Thursday’s ruling removed all legal impediment to starting the slaughter.

The ostrich farm, located near the community of Edgewood, was first ordered in the month of May to eradicate close to 400 ostriches, due to concerns of an outbreak of H5N1 avian flu.

Earlier this week, officials seized control of the business.

Sixty-nine ostriches have already died after the outbreak of a influenza-like sickness.

On Wednesday, Canada’s supreme court granted an temporary halt on the eradication directive as it considered whether to take up the matter.

Political and Public Reactions

The increasing controversy over the birds – and a lingering distrust of government – have motivated protesters to gather at the farm, with many expressing their frustration on social media.

The situation has also penetrated Canada’s federal politics.

Earlier this fall, the opposition leader, the Tory leader, was questioned twice by reporters whether he supported the demonstrators.

The Tory leader has avoided making direct statements on the matter, even though many within his political group voicing opposition against the slaughter.

He informed the press the situation had been poorly handled from the start but avoided mentioning the word “ostrich”.

International Involvement and Proposals

Several high-profile individuals from the US have lobbied authorities in Canada.

The US health secretary offered to relocate the birds to his ranch in the Sunshine State.

An US billionaire has also pleaded with the Canadian government to reverse its cull order.

Scientific and Ethical Debates

The national authorities stated the food inspection agency was following a “stamping out” policy in order to contain the transmission of avian flu, a move consistent with broader guidance from international health bodies.

However, animal rights organizations have called on the authority to perform additional tests on the animals to confirm they are carrying the virus.

The ranch operators claimed that because the last bird flu death occurred on 15 January 2025, with the remaining birds seeming healthy or healed, the flock has developed at least some level of immunity against H5N1.

They have also expressed skepticism on the scope and effectiveness of the tests on the ostriches.

Farm Spokesperson Response

Recently, the farm’s spokesperson, informed the media that the authority was killing healthy birds.

“They are prehistoric animals that have survived millions of years, but they won’t survive the Canadian Food Inspection Agency,” she said.

A co-owner expressed he was “afraid there’s – in my opinion – there’s no fairness left”.

Court and Agency Findings

A national court, however, found that allowing the birds to remain alive could result in the transmission of bird flu to different species, the poultry industry – or to people.

The agency has not announced when it plans to start slaughtering the ostriches.

Culling Methods

A 2016 agency manual, acquired under freedom of information laws, states ostriches can be euthanized by various methods, the preferred being lethal injection, which requires multiple individuals: one to hold the ostrich by sitting on its back, another to secure the head, and one to inject the drug.

Personnel can also use gas or break the birds’ necks.

Members of the agency can only shoot the ostriches “as a last resort”, if they have a trained shooter on site.

Recent Updates

According to media sources, soon after the court ruling, agency workers started installing additional gear and bright lights around a makeshift pen near the rear of the ostrich pen.