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Canada’s food safety authority has announced it aims to initiate a total removal of hundreds of ostriches at a farm after the highest judicial body declined to block the contentious slaughter.

Legal Obstacles Cleared by Court Ruling

The recent judicial decision removed all legal barrier to starting the killings.

The ostrich farm, situated near the town of Edgewood, was first ordered in the month of May to cull close to 400 ostriches, due to fears of an spread of bird flu.

Recently, officials seized control of the operation.

Nearly seventy birds have already died after the emergence of a influenza-like sickness.

On Wednesday, Canada’s supreme court granted an interim stay on the eradication directive as it weighed whether to hear the case.

Political and Public Reactions

The increasing controversy over the birds – and a lingering distrust of government – have inspired demonstrators to descend on the farm, with many expressing their frustration on social media.

The situation has also entered the nation’s political sphere.

In early October, the opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre, was asked twice by journalists whether he backed protesters.

The Tory leader has avoided making direct statements on the matter, even though many within his party voicing opposition against the cull.

He told reporters the situation had been poorly handled from the start but didn’t say the word the bird’s name.

International Involvement and Proposals

A number of prominent individuals from the US have lobbied authorities in Canada.

The US health secretary offered to move the birds to his ranch in the Sunshine State.

An US billionaire has also appealed with the authorities to reverse its cull order.

Scientific and Ethical Arguments

The national authorities stated the food inspection agency was following a “stamping out” approach in order to limit the transmission of avian flu, a step consistent with broader guidance from international health bodies.

However, animal rights organizations have called on the agency to perform additional tests on the birds to verify they are infected.

The ranch operators said that because the last bird flu death occurred on January 15th, with the surviving majority appearing in good condition or recovered, the group has acquired at least partial herd immunity against the virus.

They have also expressed skepticism on the extent and reliability of the tests on the ostriches.

Ranch Spokesperson Response

On Thursday, the farm’s spokesperson, informed the press that the authority was “murdering” healthy birds.

“These are prehistoric animals that have endured eons, but they won’t survive the Canadian Food Inspection Agency,” she stated.

A partner said he was concerned that there is no justice left”.

Judicial and Agency Decisions

A federal court, however, determined that allowing the birds to stay alive could result in the spread of bird flu to other animals, the poultry industry – or to humans.

The authority has not announced when it expects to start slaughtering the birds.

Culling Methods

An older guideline document, acquired under public access laws, states the birds can be euthanized by different means, 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 neck dislocation.

Members of the agency can only shoot the birds in extreme circumstances, if they have a trained shooter on the premises.

Latest Updates

According to media sources, soon after the court ruling, inspection agents started installing more equipment and flood lighting around a large hay-bale enclosure near the back of the bird enclosure.