Summarised by Centrist
A Canadian ostrich farm has become the centre of an international battle over animal welfare, science, and land rights after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) moved to cull nearly 400 birds infected with avian flu, despite no signs of symptoms.
The flock, which farmers say may hold valuable immunity to the disease, was spared at the last minute when the Supreme Court of Canada granted an interim stay.
The Union of BC Indian Chiefs threw its weight behind the farm, arguing that any cull must respect Indigenous rights.
Conservative politician Pete Davis asked why the government had not studied the ostriches for potential herd immunity to avian flu, saying research could have “safeguarded public health and allowed for the advancement of valuable knowledge.”
Meanwhile, RCMP officers secured the pens after a suspicious overnight fire charred a three-metre-high wall of hay bales built by the CFIA to contain the birds. Supporters also alleged that government agents removed security cameras from the farm, fuelling suspicion about the operation.
Police have launched an investigation into the fire while also warning against a wave of threats directed at businesses across the province. A no-fly zone has also reportedly been enacted over the farm.
The farm has argued in court that the surviving birds are healthy and scientifically significant, but lower courts had sided with the CFIA. The Supreme Court will now decide whether to hear the appeal. Until then, the birds remain under CFIA custody.
Editor’s note: The ostrich case in Canada has clear echoes for New Zealand if avian flu were to arrive here. The flock’s possible immunity to avian flu illustrates the tension between strict biosecurity policy and scientific opportunity. The role of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs in blocking the cull parallels debates over Māori as kaitiaki of land and species, where claims of guardianship shape environmental and agricultural decisions. The dispute also raises concerns about transparency and state power, themes that will be familiar to Kiwi readers following recent protests, biosecurity scares, and contested land use.
