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The nation’s food safety authority has announced it intends to initiate a total removal of hundreds of ostriches at a ranch following the highest judicial body declined to stop the controversial eradication.

Judicial Obstacles Cleared by Supreme Court Decision

On Thursday eliminated all judicial obstacle to commencing the slaughter.

The ostrich farm, situated close to the town of Edgewood, was initially directed in May to cull nearly 400 birds, due to fears of an outbreak of H5N1 avian flu.

Just days ago, authorities took over of the business.

Nearly seventy birds have already died after the outbreak of a flu-like illness.

On Wednesday, Canada’s supreme court issued an temporary halt on the cull order as it considered whether to hear the case.

Governmental and Public Reactions

The growing row over the ostriches – and a simmering distrust of government – have motivated protesters to descend on the farm, with many expressing their anger on social media.

The case has also penetrated Canada’s federal politics.

Earlier this fall, the Conservative leader, the Tory leader, was asked twice by reporters whether he backed protesters.

The Conservative figure has avoided making direct statements on the matter, despite many within his party voicing opposition against the cull.

He told reporters the issue had been “mismanaged from the very beginning” but didn’t say the word “ostrich”.

International Interest and Offers

Several prominent individuals from the US have petitioned authorities in Canada.

The US health secretary proposed to move the ostriches to his property in the Sunshine State.

An US wealthy businessman has also pleaded with the Canadian government to reverse its eradication directive.

Scientific and Moral Debates

The national authorities said the relevant agency was following a eradication approach in order to contain the transmission of bird flu, a move consistent with broader advice from international health bodies.

However, animal rights organizations have urged the authority to perform further testing on the animals to verify they are infected.

The ranch operators said that because the last bird flu death happened on January 15th, with the surviving majority seeming in good condition or healed, the flock has developed at least partial herd immunity against H5N1.

They have also cast doubt on the extent and reliability of the tests on the ostriches.

Farm Spokesperson Response

Recently, the ranch representative, informed the press that the agency was killing healthy birds.

“These are prehistoric animals that have endured eons, but they won’t survive the Canadian Food Inspection Agency,” she said.

A partner expressed he was “afraid that there is no justice left”.

Judicial and Authority Findings

A federal court, on the other hand, determined that allowing the birds to remain alive could lead to the spread of avian influenza to different species, the livestock sector – or to people.

The agency has not said at what time it plans to start slaughtering the birds.

Eradication Procedures

An older agency manual, obtained under freedom of information laws, says the birds can be killed by different means, the preferred being injection, which requires three people: one to hold the bird by restraining it, one to hold the head, and a third to administer the injection.

Personnel can also use gas or break the birds’ necks.

Employees of the agency can only shoot the ostriches in extreme circumstances, if they have a “skilled marksman” on the premises.

Recent Developments

As per reports, soon after the judicial decision, agency workers started installing additional gear and flood lighting around a makeshift pen near the rear of the ostrich pen.