From Flu Outbreak to High Court: The B.C. Ostrich Cull Saga
Background
Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, British Columbia, Canada, fought for over 10 months against a cull order issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) that aimed to euthanize hundreds of ostriches.
Supreme Court Decision
On Thursday morning, November 6, 2025, the Supreme Court of Canada announced it would not hear the final appeal, allowing the cull to move forward.
Key Dates in the Battle
- Early December 2024: An outbreak of “flu-like” symptoms occurred among the ostriches, killing 25 to 30 birds within three weeks.
- December 28, 2024: The CFIA intervened after receiving an anonymous tip about the deaths, which had not been previously reported, and verbally imposed a quarantine order.
- December 31, 2024: Tests on two carcasses confirmed the presence of H5 avian influenza, specifically H5N1. Minutes later, the CFIA issued a cull order, setting February 1, 2025, as the deadline to dispose of all affected birds.
- January 4-9, 2025: The farm requested an exemption from the cull, arguing the ostriches possess “rare and valuable genetics” that should be protected.
- January 10, 2025: The CFIA denied the exemption request.
“The ostriches have rare and valuable genetics worthy of preservation.”
The decision marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict between animal preservation efforts and public health regulations in British Columbia.
Author’s summary: The prolonged legal battle over culling ostriches in B.C. ended when the Supreme Court allowed the CFIA order to proceed, highlighting tensions between animal genetics preservation and disease control measures.