Despite the growing flock of support to keep 400 ostrich alive, their fate has been sealed by the Federal Court of Canada.

Universal Ostrich called for a judicial review of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) order to cull the birds at the Edgewood farm after they contracted avian influenza Dec. 31, 2024.

Justice Russel W. Zinn heard from lawyers representing both parties in April 2025 and made a decision on May 13.

"I dismiss both applications for judicial review," Zinn's reasoning reads. "The agency鈥檚 decisions were reasonable based on the record before the decision-maker and were made in a procedurally fair manner."

Zinn did recognize the hardship the cull will be on the farm of the destruction of a long-established ostrich population.

"Nonetheless, such personal losses must be weighed against the broader public interest in protecting public health and maintaining trade stability."