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2mo ago

CFIA Confirms Ostrich Death at B.C. Farm Under Supreme Court Stay

Federal inspectors keep custody pending Supreme Court steps after a last‑minute halt to a planned cull.

Ostriches eat their feed at the Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., on May 17, 2025. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed the death of an ostrich at the farm, which is at the centre of a legal battle.
Karen Espersen, centre, the co-owner of Universal Ostrich Farms, speaks with supporters with her daughter, Katie Pasitney, at the farm in Edgewood, B.C., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, as the Canadian Food Agency prepares to cull 400 of the farm’s ostriches this week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Hemens

Overview

  • The Canadian Food Inspection Agency reported that one ostrich at Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood, B.C., died on Saturday.
  • The agency said the bird had a pre‑existing leg injury affecting mobility and experienced a significant two‑day health decline before its death.
  • CFIA stated it administered medication and electrolyte fluids aligned with the owners’ treatment plan, while a farm spokesperson accused staff of animal cruelty and mishandling electrolytes.
  • The flock remains under a Supreme Court stay that paused a planned depopulation, with CFIA maintaining control of the enclosure and preparing its court response.
  • Authorities initially ordered the cull following an avian flu outbreak, which the owners continue to contest by arguing surviving birds are healthy and scientifically valuable.