The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has officially confirmed the death of a single ostrich on a British Columbia farm. A last-minute Supreme Court of Canada decision issued a stay of execution on the cull order. Ostrich farm accident This particular stay had far-reaching effects on the farm’s entire flock of ostriches at the time of the event. The CFIA declared the health risk to the ostrich to have deteriorated sharply within two days. Unfortunately, it passed away on a Saturday.
An ostrich mixed into a mob of roughly seven emus. They all looked so cute as they were gobbling from a plastic tub set on the ground at the farm. The CFIA has taken action as there is heightened sensitivity to the welfare of these animals. This move comes amidst a flurry of ongoing legal battles over their fate.
As the situation unfolded, animal welfare advocates started warning that the conditions these ostriches were being kept under were deplorable. The recent stay of the cull order has drawn attention to the complexities of managing agricultural practices and animal health standards. Observers say that this incident could make it even more difficult to have a constructive debate about these animal welfare regulations in Canada.
In the wake of the ostrich’s death, the CFIA should undertake an extensive investigation to determine the conditions surrounding their death. The agency’s determinations will be pivotal to determining what comes next. What we really need to do is focus on the welfare of the other ostriches on the farm.
This week, The Canadian Press featured a wonderful photo of the last countable ostriches in Canada. Photographer Aaron Hemens shared the photo, showing what these people now call home. Debates around animal rights and agricultural practices continue to grow in intensity. This crash has been a primary focal point of public advocates as well as regulators.
