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Canada’s food inspection agency revealed it intends to start a total removal of hundreds of ostriches at a ranch following the country’s top court declined to stop the disputed eradication.

Judicial Impediments Cleared by Court Ruling

Thursday’s ruling removed any legal impediment to starting the slaughter.

The ostrich farm, situated close to the community of Edgewood, was first ordered in May to cull nearly 400 birds, due to concerns of an spread of avian influenza.

Earlier this week, authorities took over of the business.

Sixty-nine birds have already died after the emergence of a flu-like illness.

Midweek, Canada’s supreme court granted an interim stay on the cull order as it considered whether to take up the matter.

Governmental and Public Reactions

The increasing controversy over the ostriches – and a simmering distrust of government – have inspired protesters to gather at the property, with many expressing their frustration on social media.

The situation has also penetrated Canada’s federal politics.

In early October, the opposition leader, the Tory leader, was questioned repeatedly by journalists whether he supported the demonstrators.

The Tory leader has steered clear of making specific comments on the issue, despite many within his political group protesting against the cull.

He told reporters the situation had been “mismanaged from the very beginning” but didn’t say the word “ostrich”.

Cross-Border Interest and Proposals

A number of prominent individuals from the US have lobbied Canadian officials.

The American health chief offered to relocate the ostriches to his ranch in the Sunshine State.

An American billionaire has also pleaded with the authorities to reverse its eradication directive.

Health and Moral Debates

The Canadian federal government said the relevant agency was following a “stamping out” approach in order to limit the transmission of avian flu, a step consistent with wider guidance from global health organizations.

However, animal rights organizations have urged the authority to conduct further testing on the birds to confirm they are carrying the virus.

The farm owners said that because the last bird flu death happened on January 15th, with the remaining birds seeming healthy or recovered, the flock has acquired at least partial herd immunity against H5N1.

They have also expressed skepticism on the scope and effectiveness of testing on the ostriches.

Ranch Representative Response

Recently, the farm’s spokesperson, told the press that the agency was “murdering” healthy birds.

“These are prehistoric animals that have survived eons, but they won’t endure the government agency,” she said.

A partner expressed he was “afraid that there is no justice left”.

Court and Agency Findings

A federal court, on the other hand, found that permitting the ostriches to remain alive could lead to the transmission of avian influenza to other animals, the livestock sector – or to people.

The authority has not announced at what time it plans to start slaughtering the birds.

Eradication Procedures

An older agency manual, obtained under public access laws, states the birds can be killed by various methods, the preferred being lethal injection, which requires three people: one person to restrain the ostrich by restraining it, another to secure the head, and one to inject the drug.

Personnel can also use gas chambers or break the birds’ necks.

Members of the organization can only use firearms on the ostriches “as a last resort”, if they have a “skilled marksman” on site.

Latest Updates

As per media sources, shortly after the judicial decision, inspection agents began setting up more equipment and bright lights around a large hay-bale enclosure near the back of the ostrich pen.