From Flu Outbreak to 'Ostrichfest' to High Court: How B.C. Ostrich Cull Saga Unfolded
Background and Timeline of Events
Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, British Columbia, spent over ten months fighting a cull order from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) that would see hundreds of ostriches killed. On November 6, 2025, the Supreme Court of Canada announced it would not hear a final appeal, allowing the cull to proceed.
Key Dates and Developments
- Early December 2024: An outbreak of "flu-like" symptoms struck the ostriches, resulting in 25 to 30 deaths over three weeks.
- December 28, 2024: The CFIA intervened after receiving an anonymous report about the ostrich deaths, which had gone unreported until then. A quarantine order was verbally imposed.
- December 31, 2024: Tests on two carcasses confirmed H5 avian influenza, later identified as H5N1. The CFIA promptly issued a cull order with a February 1 deadline for disposing of all affected birds.
- January 4–9, 2025: The farm sought an exemption from the cull, claiming the ostriches possessed “rare and valuable genetics” that should be preserved.
- January 10, 2025: The CFIA denied the exemption request.
“The ostriches have ‘rare and valuable genetics’ worthy of preservation,” the farm stated in its exemption plea.
Supreme Court Decision
On the morning of November 6, 2025, the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear the final appeal from Universal Ostrich Farms. This decision effectively allowed the CFIA's cull order to move forward.
Author's Summary
The protracted legal fight over the ostrich cull highlights the clash between disease control and preserving unique animal genetics, culminating in the Supreme Court's approval of the cull.
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