On May 20, protesters and the RCMP were present at Universal Ostrich INC. farms in Edgewood, B.C. over a cull mandated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).Â
On Dec. 31, 2024, a positive test result for H5 avian influenza subtype was confirmed to have affected several ostriches on the farm. This led the CFIA to call for approximately 400 ostriches to be culled from the farm despite local landfill stating that they won’t accept the carcasses, unless there is additional testing done for avian flu by the CFIA.Â
Owners of Universal Ostrich INC. requested for the Federal Courts to spare the flock hoping that they would be eligible for exemption from the Notice to Dispose the CFIA submitted Jan. 2, 2025. The court dismissed the application on May 13, 2025.
At the time of writing, CBC has reported dozens of peaceful protestors on site and several RCMP officers. Police are currently there to prepare for arrests — but according to Global News, whatever happens, the officers want it to be a peaceful exchange; they stated that they respect the protestors’ freedom to express themselves in this matter.Â
