The rally in Vernon in opposition of the order to cull 399 ostriches at a Central Kootenay farm (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

By Liam Verster

Opposing Court-Ordered Cull

Rally held in Vernon to oppose culling of Kootenay ostriches: Video

May 15, 2025 | 2:40 PM

People gathered with signs at Polson Park to oppose the culling of hundreds of ostriches at a Central Kootenay farm.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has ordered the culling of 399 birds at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., after avian influenza was found in the flock.

The farm owners appealed, but the Federal Court decided to uphold the culling order.

In response to the decision, peaceful protests were organized in B.C., including the local one in Vernon that saw about 15 people carry signs and wave at traffic at the Polson Park fountain from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday afternoon.

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“We organized this rally to help save the 399 ostriches that are going to be murdered,” Gena Barzan, organizer of the local rally and director of the Animal Auxiliary told Vernon Matters, adding she knows the owner of the farm from providing aid and working with them during the fires of 2020.

The rally organizer stated only a small fraction of the ostriches tested positive for the virus.

“There were four birds that were ill, and they were tested with the PPC testing, with the swab, there was no blood test taken. I believe that three of the birds, if I’m not mistaken, three of the birds out of four survived, and the other part of the herd was no where near them and are untested,” Barzan said.

“They’re very healthy and big and strong and healthy. This was four months ago, and they’re still coming back to cull them after four months of zero illness.”

She added this order to cull the entire herd and the decision by the court to uphold it was “corruption” and overreach by the government.

“We as Canadians and ranchers think that this is wrong, the culling of these kinds of animals should not happen,” Barzan said.

“These are not meat birds, they’re not sold as meat, and there’s 399 prehistoric, healthy birds that should not die.”

She also expressed concern that if this order is carried out it could give the government the ability to ‘go on anybody’s ranch and continue to murder.’ She added the government should be transparent about what they are doing and for what purpose.

Along with the local rally, a sit-in was being organized in Edgewood and Barzan said she was encouraging people to bring a tent, supplies and food for a few days to participate in the larger protest.

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