BC Ostrich Farm Owners Fear Flock Will Be Culled Before Judicial Review Due to Avian Flu

A handmade sign posted on the property of Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., during a rally by supporters hoping to prevent a cull of more than 400 ostriches. Courtesy of Peyman Askari

Owners of an ostrich farm in rural B.C. are worried that they may lose their birds before they can argue their case in court to preserve them from slaughter in relation to a H5N1 outbreak on the farm.

After securing a court injunction on Jan. 31 delaying the cull of 423 ostriches and prompting a judicial review of the case, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has revamped the quarantine protocol for Universal Ostrich Farms to follow.