Ostrich Rescue Efforts by Billionaire
In an unexpected turn of events, billionaire John Catsimatidis from New York has launched an effort to save ostriches from being culled on Canadian farms. This initiative was sparked by a heartfelt appeal from a farmer, leading to discussions about incorporating these birds into research.
Despite the backing of animal welfare advocates and U.S. officials, around 400 ostriches are still scheduled to be killed on Friday. The situation centers around Universal Ostrich Farm in British Columbia, raising serious concerns about the future of these birds.
Catsimatidis expressed frustration over Canada’s quick acceptance of the U.S. offer to help, stating, “Something smells.” His comments underscore the challenges involved, as the Canadian food testing agency mandated the cull to control avian flu after an outbreak killed 69 ostriches last winter.
A spokesperson for the farm claimed that the remaining birds are healthy and have yet to be tested for the virus. This raises questions about the justification for the cull.
With a net worth of $4.5 billion—stemming from an oil refinery and a grocery chain—Catsimatidis first learned about the situation when farmer’s daughter, Katie Pasitney, reached out to a radio station he owns in February. “Knowing his love for animals, I thought I could bring international attention to this issue,” she recalled.
Her connection with Catsimatidis quickly evolved into a shared commitment to advocating for ostriches and other animals. “He has been incredibly generous in this fight and has become like a grandfather to me,” Pasitney noted.
Catsimatidis not only made a significant financial contribution—about $35,000—for legal efforts to preserve these flightless birds, but he’s also optimistic that critics might play a role in finding a vaccine for avian flu. In this quest, he has collaborated with prominent figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Furthermore, Catsimatidis has been actively contesting the decisions of Canada’s food testing agency, waiting for an important ruling from the Supreme Court of Canada, which could decide the fate of the lawsuit.
Should the court not intervene, the remaining ostriches will face imminent danger, as Pasitney reported that agents had already begun rounding them up.
Witnesses described the ostriches as “traumatized, stressed, and hungry,” enclosed in a hay barring area surrounded by agents. To compound the situation, police officers equipped with drones arrived to manage the situation, seeking to protect what they saw as a critically endangered species.
On the U.S. side, Ambassador Pete Hoekstra confirmed that the federal government has allowed the transfer of these birds to the U.S. for research purposes. “There’s a real chance that addressing avian flu could change policies for both countries,” he remarked, highlighting the importance of this situation.
