Lethal Injection for Healthy Ostriches

Lethal injection directly into the skull. That’s one of the methods being considered for culling hundreds of seemingly healthy ostriches in Canada. Other options include shooting, neck-breaking, or gassing. There’s a lot at stake here.

The Supreme Court of Canada recently dismissed an appeal which now allows the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to move forward with the slaughter, following a suspected H5N1 avian influenza outbreak reported in December 2024.

“Sad Day”

Even though the birds have reportedly been healthy for around 300 days, the CFIA is still planning to cull the flock. It’s unclear how many ostriches are set to be killed. The agency is still looking to confirm an exact count, but the farm owners—Karen Espersen, Dave Bilinsky, and Katie Pasitney—say federal authorities have barred them from conducting their own count since taking control of the property.

Per the Supreme Court’s directive, which granted the CFIA “protection” of the ostriches, the farmers are no longer allowed to feed or care for the animals. The CFIA is now responsible for providing food, water, and bedding.

“This is a sad day for Canada,” Pasitney, the farm’s spokesperson, shared with some sadness in her voice.

Voicing Discontent

“Our leaders have failed us once again,” one of the owners expressed, emphasizing that they would strive to hold not just their family, but families globally accountable for the harm caused by the CFIA. These officials, they insist, did not heed a lawsuit that could have potentially helped mitigate the risk of the virus through innovation and science.

Concerns About Treatment

On September 22, CFIA and RCMP officers took control of a 58-acre property in Edgewood, British Columbia during an incident at Universal Ostrich Farm. Two days later, the Supreme Court moved to suspend the culling and reassess the farm’s appeal against the CFIA’s orders.

In the days since, the owners have released videos, hoping to show evidence of neglect or mistreatment by CFIA inspectors, which they claim violate a court injunction. The CFIA maintains that ostriches pose a risk to both animal and human health, reiterating their plans to reduce the population as authorized under the Animal Health Act.

The agency stated that both the Federal Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Appeal found CFIA’s actions to be “reasonable and procedurally fair.” They also warned supporters at the farm against interfering with inspectors, which could lead to legal repercussions under the Animal Health Act.