Animal Justice Urges CFIA to Halt Ostrich Cull and Re-Test for Avian Flu
EDGEWOOD, B.C. — Animal Justice has urged the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to stop its planned cull of about 400 ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farms and to carry out fresh tests for avian influenza. The appeal follows the Supreme Court of Canada’s refusal to hear the farm’s case.
On the eve of the Court’s decision, the organization sent a formal letter to the CFIA warning against taking irreversible action and instead called for renewed, independent testing. Experts in infectious diseases have also questioned the necessity of culling, suggesting that updated results could reveal that the ostriches no longer pose a threat.
According to Animal Justice, no new testing has occurred since December 2024, when the initial outbreak was identified. The group warns that killing hundreds of apparently healthy birds without recent evidence of infection risks undermining public confidence in the CFIA.
“More than 10 months after an avian influenza outbreak was declared, it would be remarkably cruel to kill hundreds of apparently healthy birds just to prove a point,” said Camille Labchuk, lawyer and executive director of Animal Justice.
Summary
Animal Justice demands the CFIA postpone its ostrich cull and perform renewed avian flu tests, emphasizing ethical and scientific responsibility after the Supreme Court’s ruling.