EDGEWOOD, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA – A cull of hundreds of ostriches at a farm in British Columbia began Thursday night, following a lengthy legal battle and an avian flu outbreak that occurred last New Year’s Eve. The cull, ordered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), was completed within hours, leaving supporters of the farm in shock as they witnessed the disposal of the birds' carcasses the next day.

The cull took place at Universal Ostrich Farms, where an estimated 300 to 330 birds were shot by a professional marksman. The operation began shortly after nightfall, with police blocking access to the area as protesters gathered, shouting at the workers and calling for the cull to stop.

Earlier that day, the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear the farm's final appeal, effectively ending the last legal avenue to prevent the cull. Dave Bilinski, co-owner of the farm, expressed his distress over the situation, stating, "There are many supporters here that right now need mental health (support)." He criticized the CFIA for not providing mental health resources on-site during the operation.

The CFIA defended its actions, stating that using a marksman was the "most appropriate and humane option" for the cull, consistent with veterinary recommendations. The agency noted that the cull was conducted under veterinary supervision and marked the beginning of the disposal phase of their disease response.

Despite the CFIA's assurances, the farm's owners argued that the cull was unnecessary, claiming that the remaining ostriches were healthy and had developed herd immunity. They had requested testing for infection, but the CFIA maintained that even healthy-looking birds could harbor the virus, posing a risk of mutation if exposed to wildlife.

As the cull commenced, supporters of the farm held prayer circles, hoping for a last-minute intervention. Janice Tyndall, a 72-year-old supporter, described her experience, saying she listened to the gunfire for hours before she "couldn't stomach it anymore." She recalled hearing varying sounds of gunfire, which she likened to a high-powered rifle.

The cull was met with significant opposition, with protesters expressing their outrage at the CFIA's actions. Bright floodlights obscured the scene inside the enclosure, where the birds were held, and supporters gathered at a nearby highway, pleading for the cull to cease.

At dawn, tarpaulins covered the enclosure, which were later removed to reveal the dead ostriches. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) provided security during the cull, citing threats and intimidation directed at CFIA agents. They confirmed that no injuries occurred during the operation and no arrests were made.

The farm's owners are eligible for compensation of up to $3,000 per ostrich, but Bilinski stated he had not received any information regarding payments. Katie Pasitney, whose family co-owns the farm, expressed her family's devastation in a social media post, stating they were "broken" and could not fathom the suffering caused by the cull. She mentioned plans to follow the trucks carrying the carcasses in a funeral procession as a tribute to the lost birds.