From Flu Outbreak to High Court: The B.C. Ostrich Cull Saga
Background and Initial Outbreak
Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, British Columbia, Canada, spent over 10 months contesting a cull order issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) that would lead to the death of hundreds of ostriches.
In early December 2024, the farm experienced an outbreak with “flu-like” symptoms among its ostriches, resulting in the deaths of 25 to 30 birds over three weeks.
Government Intervention
- December 28, 2024: CFIA intervened after an anonymous tip about the deaths, imposing a verbal quarantine.
- December 31, 2024: Laboratory tests on two carcasses confirmed H5 avian influenza, later identified as H5N1. The CFIA promptly issued a cull order, requiring all affected birds to be culled by February 1, 2025.
Legal Challenge and Farm Response
- January 4–9, 2025: The farm applied for an exemption, citing the ostriches’ “rare and valuable genetics” as justification to preserve them.
- January 10, 2025: CFIA denied the exemption request.
- January 15, 2025: The farm reported that the last ostrich death occurred, bringing total fatalities to 69.
Judicial Proceedings
- January 31, 2025: The Federal Court issued a stay on the cull order pending its review of the farm’s application for judicial review.
- November 6, 2025: The Supreme Court of Canada announced it would not hear a final appeal from the farm, effectively allowing the cull to proceed.
“The Supreme Court of Canada on Thursday morning announced it would not hear a final appeal, allowing the cull to proceed.”
The farm fought hard to protect its flock, emphasizing the genetic uniqueness of the ostriches, but the courts upheld the government’s order citing public health concerns.
Author's summary: After a lengthy legal battle sparked by an avian flu outbreak, the Canadian Supreme Court allowed the cull of hundreds of ostriches in B.C., prioritizing disease control over genetic preservation.
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