The nation’s food safety authority has announced it aims to initiate a “complete depopulation” of hundreds of these large birds at a ranch after the country’s top court declined to stop the disputed slaughter.
Thursday’s ruling removed any legal impediment to commencing the culling.
Universal Ostrich Farms, situated near the town of Edgewood, was initially directed in the month of May to eradicate close to 400 ostriches, amid concerns of an outbreak of avian influenza.
Just days ago, officials seized control of the operation.
Nearly seventy birds have previously perished after the outbreak of a influenza-like sickness.
On Wednesday, the nation’s top court granted an temporary halt on the cull order as it weighed whether to hear the case.
The escalating dispute over the ostriches – and a simmering distrust of government – have inspired demonstrators to descend on the farm, with many broadcasting their frustration on social media.
The situation has also penetrated the nation’s political sphere.
Earlier this fall, the Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre, was asked repeatedly by journalists whether he supported the demonstrators.
The Tory leader has avoided making specific comments on the issue, even though many within his political group voicing opposition against the slaughter.
He informed the press the issue had been “mismanaged from the very beginning” but avoided mentioning the word the bird’s name.
Several prominent figures from the US have lobbied Canadian officials.
The US health secretary offered to relocate the birds to his ranch in Florida.
An US billionaire has also appealed with the Canadian government to rescind its eradication directive.
The national authorities stated the relevant agency was adhering to a “stamping out” approach in order to contain the spread of bird flu, a step consistent with broader guidance from international health bodies.
However, animal rights organizations have urged the agency to perform additional tests on the birds to verify they are infected.
The ranch operators said that because the most recent fatality occurred on January 15th, with the remaining birds seeming healthy or recovered, the flock has developed at least some level of immunity against the virus.
They have also expressed skepticism on the scope and effectiveness of testing on the ostriches.
On Thursday, the farm’s spokesperson, informed the press that the agency was “murdering” healthy birds.
“They are prehistoric animals that have endured eons, but they won’t survive the government agency,” she stated.
A co-owner expressed he was concerned that there is no fairness left”.
A federal court, however, found that allowing the ostriches to remain alive could result in the spread of bird flu to other animals, the livestock sector – or to humans.
The authority has not announced when it expects to start slaughtering the birds.
A 2016 guideline document, acquired under public access laws, says ostriches can be killed by various methods, the recommended being injection, which requires multiple individuals: one to hold the ostrich by restraining it, one to hold the head, and one to inject the drug.
Staff can also use gas or neck dislocation.
Members of the organization can only shoot the ostriches in extreme circumstances, if they have a trained shooter on site.
According to media sources, soon after the judicial decision, inspection agents began setting up additional gear and flood lighting around a large hay-bale enclosure near the rear of the bird enclosure.
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