300 'healthy' ostriches slaughtered in Canada amidst bird flu fears despite pleas

[WhatInThe]

300 healthy ostriches killed at a Canadian ostrich farm in British Columbia despite pleas to spare them. The farm owners tried stopping the executions with the courts who eventually ruled against them. Pleas to spare came from local and foreign groups, people etc.

More than 300 ostriches shot dead by firing squad on Canadian farm after bird flu allegations

The government feared a bird flu outbreak although all of them were in good health. Arguments were made to spare them because they weren't sick and their immune systems could've been studied. And not a food staple like chickens.

Any new outbreaks of bird flu in that area while the culling was litigated?

 

[Paladin1950]

Totally stupid and inhumane.

 

[Jules]

Finally. This was a disease management situation. The ostriches weren’t healthy. This has been a long, drawn out story. Imo, they should have been culled in the beginning. If you knew a chicken farm had a serious strain of avian flu, you’d expect it to be cleaned up. No different here.

The owners didn’t have insurance and it was to their advantage to relabel these farm birds as pets. It got them sympathy and lots of money from Go Fund Me, etc. They’re still asking for more.

 

[Pepper]

Thank you @Jules for your clarification