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Vernon Residents Rally Thursday to Stop Cull of 399 Edgewood Ostriches

The Federal Court upheld an order to cull nearly 400 ostriches infected with avian influenza at a farm in Edgewood, with a rally held in Vernon on May 15, 2025, protesting the action.
The cull order comes after a December 2024 avian influenza outbreak and a failed legal challenge by Universal Ostrich versus the Canadian agency responsible for food safety , although some experts and community members question whether the culling is necessary.
Scientists argue the ostriches and their eggs have high research value, and the flock has fully recovered with no new tests or evidence in five months, while local politicians and advocates seek a plan to save the birds.
MP Scott Anderson revealed that his team is developing a strategy to protect the ostriches while meeting the standards set by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, consulting leading scientists to investigate immunology research options.
The CFIA defends the cull as necessary to protect public health and a $6.8 billion domestic poultry industry, but the protest and advocacy signal ongoing debate over potential government overreach and animal welfare.

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Vernon residents rally Thursday to stop cull of 399 Edgewood ostriches

A group of protesters gathered at Vernon's Polson Park Thursday to decry the slaughter of 399 ostriches. In what has become a national flashpoint, the operators of Universal Ostrich Farms Inc., hav

2 days ago·Kelowna, Canada

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