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The nation’s food inspection agency has announced it plans to start a “complete depopulation” of hundreds of these large birds at a ranch after the supreme court refused to halt the contentious cull.

Judicial Impediments Removed by Supreme Court Decision

The recent judicial decision removed any legal barrier to beginning the culling.

Universal Ostrich Farms, situated close to the community of Edgewood, British Columbia, was first ordered in May to eradicate close to 400 ostriches, due to concerns of an spread of bird flu.

Earlier this week, authorities took over of the operation.

Sixty-nine birds have previously perished after the outbreak of a flu-like illness.

On Wednesday, the nation’s top court granted an interim stay on the cull order as it weighed whether to hear the case.

Governmental and Public Reactions

The escalating dispute over the birds – and a lingering distrust of government – have inspired protesters to gather at the property, with many expressing their frustration on social media.

The case has also entered Canada’s federal politics.

In early October, the opposition leader, the Tory leader, was asked repeatedly by reporters whether he backed protesters.

The Tory leader has avoided making specific comments on the issue, despite many within his party protesting against the cull.

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

International Involvement and Offers

Several prominent individuals from the US have petitioned authorities in Canada.

The US health secretary proposed to relocate the ostriches to his property in the Sunshine State.

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

Health and Ethical Arguments

The national authorities stated the relevant agency was adhering to a eradication policy in order to contain the transmission of bird flu, a step consistent with broader advice from international health bodies.

However, animal advocacy groups have urged the agency to perform additional tests on the animals to verify they are carrying the virus.

The farm owners said that because the most recent fatality happened on January 15th, with the surviving majority appearing healthy or healed, the group has developed at least some level of immunity against the virus.

They have also cast doubt on the extent and reliability of testing on the birds.

Farm Representative Reaction

On Thursday, the farm’s spokesperson, told the media that the agency was killing healthy birds.

“They are prehistoric animals that have survived millions of years, but they will not endure the Canadian Food Inspection Agency,” she stated.

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

Judicial and Agency Findings

A federal court, on the other hand, found that allowing the ostriches to remain alive could result in the transmission of avian influenza to different species, the livestock sector – or to people.

The authority has not said at what time it plans to begin culling the ostriches.

Eradication Methods

An older agency manual, acquired under freedom of information laws, says ostriches can be killed by various methods, the preferred being lethal injection, which requires three people: one to hold the bird by sitting on its back, one to hold the head, and a third to administer the injection.

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

Employees of the organization can only shoot the ostriches in extreme circumstances, if they have a “skilled marksman” on the premises.

Recent Updates

As per reports, shortly after the judicial decision, inspection agents started installing more equipment and flood lighting around a large hay-bale enclosure near the back of the bird enclosure.