From Flu Outbreak to High Court: B.C. Ostrich Cull Saga
Background and Initial Outbreak
Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, British Columbia, has resisted a cull order from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for over 10 months. The order demands the killing of hundreds of ostriches after an avian influenza outbreak.
Key Events Timeline
- Early December 2024: The ostriches begin showing “flu-like” symptoms, resulting in 25 to 30 deaths over three weeks.
- December 28, 2024: CFIA steps in after an anonymous tip about the deaths, issuing a quarantine order on the farm.
- December 31, 2024: Tests on two carcasses confirm H5 avian influenza, later identified as H5N1. CFIA promptly issues a cull order, with February 1 as the deadline for bird disposal.
- January 4-9, 2025: The farm requests an exemption from the cull, citing the ostriches’ “rare and valuable genetics.”
- January 10, 2025: CFIA rejects the exemption request.
- January 15, 2025: The farm reports the final ostrich death, totaling 69 birds lost.
- January 31, 2025: The Federal Court issues a stay on the cull order as it reviews the farm’s judicial review application.
Supreme Court Decision
On a Thursday morning in 2025, the Supreme Court of Canada announced it would not hear the final appeal from Universal Ostrich Farms, effectively allowing the cull to move forward.
“The farm has spent over 10 months opposing the mandatory cull after the identification of the H5N1 virus,” the court statement said.
Author’s Summary
This prolonged legal battle highlights the tension between disease control efforts and the preservation of rare animal genetics in agricultural settings.