CFIA Warns Ongoing Delay of Ostrich Cull in B.C. Poses Health Risks

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is raising alarms over the stalled cull of ostriches at a farm in southeastern B.C., saying the delay could threaten both animal and human health.

In a statement Friday, the agency said it has identified one ostrich at Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood with “compromised health,” though it did not specify the condition. Officials estimate there are between 300 and 330 birds on the property and are still working to confirm the exact number.

The ostriches were scheduled to be destroyed after avian flu was detected at the farm, but the Supreme Court of Canada granted a last-minute stay earlier this week, giving the flock a temporary reprieve. Farm owners have long argued that the surviving birds are healthy and have scientific value, challenging what they call an unnecessary cull.

In the meantime, CFIA says it will continue to provide feed under veterinary supervision, using the farm’s existing suppliers. The agency emphasized that while the legal battle plays out, the uncertainty surrounding the flock leaves open the possibility of wider risks.

The ostrich cull has been the subject of months of heated protests, legal wrangling, and community tension. For now, the birds remain alive—but their fate rests on a court process that pits concerns about disease control against the owners’ fight to save their herd.