Overview

• Canada’s Federal Court of Appeal dismissed Universal Ostrich Farms’ challenge and refused to admit new evidence, finding the CFIA’s decisions reasonable under the Health of Animals Act.
• The ruling leaves a cull of roughly 400 surviving birds legally permitted after 69 ostriches died in December and January and two carcasses tested positive for H5N1.
• The farm’s lawyer says they will seek an emergency stay and apply for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.
• The CFIA says it continues planning for humane depopulation under veterinary oversight and cites ongoing risks to animal and human health and to export market access tied to a novel reassortant genotype.
• Supporters are organizing to gather at the Edgewood property at the farm’s request for peaceful presence, following months of public attention and earlier offers from U.S. figures to relocate or study the flock.