News and Reports

Tensions between protesters and the Canadian authorities over a cull order at an ostrich farm in rural British Columbia momentarily broke last week, after the Supreme Court halted the killing of hundreds of birds that became infected with avian flu, as it weighed whether to hear the case to spare them.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) plans to euthanize more than 300 ostriches after members of the flock tested positive for the disease in December, at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C. The agency has faced increasing pushback from the farm and its supporters.

Culling of infected birds is standard practice and in line with the World Organization for Animal Health.