Canada: order to cull more than 400 ostriches over bird flu fears ruffles feathers

"Universal Ostrich Farms, near the town of Edgewood, was ordered in May to cull more than 400 birds, amid fears of an outbreak of H5N1 avian flu, and earlier this week officials seized control of the business. Sixty-nine birds have already died after the outbreak of a flu-like illness, but on Wednesday Canada's supreme court issued an interim stay on the cull order as it weighed whether to hear the case."

"The cull order has catalyzed a fierce protest by the farm owners and protesters as well as senior figures in the Trump administration, who have decried the public health effort as government overreach. Earlier this week, Chris Sanders, a conservative commentator, said in a Facebook video that he was offering his ranches in Oklahoma, Texas and South Dakota as a new home for the imperilled ostriches."

"Kennedy previously wrote a letter to the president of Canada's food inspection agency in May, asking the farm to be spared from a planned cull. US billionaire John Catsimatidis has also lobbied the Canadian government to reverse its cull order. The growing row over the ostriches and a simmering post-pandemic skepticism of government have inspired protesters to descend on the farm, with many broadcasting their frustration on social media."

Universal Ostrich Farms near Edgewood faced a May order to cull more than 400 birds over fears of an H5N1 avian flu outbreak, and officials later seized control of the business. Sixty-nine birds died after a flu-like illness, and Canada's supreme court issued an interim stay on the cull order while considering the case. The cull order prompted fierce protests, intimidation, harassment and death threats against local businesses. Senior US figures and wealthy lobbyists sought to relocate or spare the birds, and protesters have amplified their views via livestreams and social media, including vaccine skepticism.

Read at www.theguardian.com