Animal Justice Demands Re-Testing and Halts Ostrich Cull
Animal Justice has urged the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to conduct fresh avian influenza tests and stop the planned culling of about 400 ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farms in British Columbia. This call follows the Supreme Court of Canada’s refusal to hear an appeal from the company involved.
Concerns Over Culling Decision
Before the court's ruling, Animal Justice sent a formal letter to the CFIA, asking the agency to avoid the irreversible measure of killing the birds. Instead, they recommended renewed and independent testing to assess the current avian influenza risk.
Experts in infectious diseases have raised doubts about the necessity of the cull, arguing updated testing might reveal the ostriches no longer pose a threat.
Testing History and Public Trust
Animal Justice notes that no tests have been performed on these birds since December 2024, when the outbreak was initially declared. The organization warned that killing large numbers of apparently healthy ostriches without recent, solid evidence could damage public confidence in the CFIA.
“More than 10 months after an avian influenza outbreak was declared, it would be remarkably cruel to kill hundreds of apparently healthy birds just to prove a point,” said Camille Labchuk, lawyer and executive director of Animal Justice.
Summary
Animal Justice stresses the need for updated testing before any culling, highlighting concerns about animal welfare and the importance of maintaining trust in regulatory agencies.
Author’s summary: Animal Justice urges CFIA to halt the ostrich cull and conduct new tests, emphasizing the ethical and scientific need for current evidence before taking irreversible action.