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The nation’s food inspection agency stated it intends to start a total removal of hundreds of ostriches at a ranch after the country’s top court refused to halt the contentious eradication.

Judicial Impediments Cleared by Supreme Court Decision

Thursday’s ruling removed any judicial obstacle to beginning the killings.

Universal Ostrich Farms, situated near the town of Edgewood, was first ordered in May to cull nearly 400 birds, amid concerns of an outbreak of H5N1 avian flu.

Just days ago, authorities took over of the business.

Nearly seventy birds have already died after the emergence of a flu-like illness.

Midweek, the nation’s top court issued an interim stay on the eradication directive as it considered whether to hear the case.

Political and Public Responses

The growing row over the ostriches – and a simmering post-pandemic skepticism – have motivated protesters to descend on the farm, with many broadcasting their anger on social media.

The case has also entered Canada’s federal politics.

In early October, the opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre, was asked twice by journalists whether he backed the demonstrators.

The Tory leader has avoided making direct statements on the matter, despite many within his political group protesting against the slaughter.

He informed the press the situation had been poorly handled from the start but avoided mentioning the word the bird’s name.

International Interest and Proposals

A number of high-profile figures from the United States have petitioned authorities in Canada.

The US health secretary proposed to move the ostriches to his property in Florida.

An US billionaire has also appealed with the Canadian government to rescind its eradication directive.

Scientific and Moral Debates

The Canadian federal government stated the food inspection agency was adhering to a “stamping out” policy in order to contain the spread of bird flu, a step consistent with broader advice from global health organizations.

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

The farm owners claimed that because the most recent fatality occurred on January 15th, with the surviving majority seeming in good condition or healed, the flock has developed at least some level of immunity against the virus.

They have also cast doubt on the scope and reliability of the tests on the birds.

Farm Representative Response

Recently, the farm’s spokesperson, informed the press that the authority was “murdering” birds in good health.

“They are prehistoric animals that have endured eons, but they won’t survive the government agency,” she stated.

A co-owner said he was concerned there’s – in my opinion – there’s no fairness left”.

Court and Authority Findings

A national court, however, determined that permitting the birds to stay alive could result in the transmission of avian influenza to other animals, the poultry industry – or to humans.

The agency has not said at what time it expects to start slaughtering the birds.

Culling Procedures

An older agency manual, obtained under public access laws, says the birds can be killed by various methods, the recommended being lethal injection, which requires multiple individuals: one to hold the bird by restraining it, one to hold the head, and a third to administer the injection.

Staff can also use gas chambers or neck dislocation.

Employees of the organization can only use firearms on the ostriches “as a last resort”, if they have a trained shooter on site.

Latest Updates

According to media sources, soon after the court ruling, agency workers began setting up more equipment and flood lighting around a makeshift pen near the rear of the bird enclosure.