Published 14 days ago • British Columbia, Canada • Updated 8 days ago

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asks CFIA to reconsider ostrich cull at B.C. farm

On May 23, 2025, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Urged the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to reconsider its decision to cull approximately 400 ostriches located at a farm in Edgewood, British Columbia, following the detection of avian influenza in December 2024.
The cull order followed confirmed avian flu cases in dead birds in December and January amid an ongoing outbreak affecting millions of birds across Canada and the US.
Kennedy and US health officials proposed studying the surviving birds for immunity to help understand the virus, while Canadian courts and CFIA insist the cull prevents virus spread and mutation.
Kennedy's letter, co-signed by heads of the FDA and NIH, stated there is "significant value" in the immune study, and US officials pledged full support for diagnostics and research collaboration.
Despite protests and alternative offers to rehome the ostriches, Canadian authorities plan to proceed with the humane cull, emphasizing public health and animal welfare concerns amid ongoing investigations.

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BBC News

Center

Ostriches facing cull at Canada farm find allies in Trump officials

RFK Jr and Dr Mehmet Oz are backing an ostrich farm in British Columbia as it seeks to stop a cull ordered after a bird flu outbreak.

9 days ago·United Kingdom

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Red Deer Advocate

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Lean Left

B.C. ostrich cull appealed again, CFIA stands by order despite U.S. call for halt

Dr. Oz, Kennedy Jr. join hundreds in support of protecting Edgewood ostrich farm

10 days ago

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The Globe & Mail

Center

B.C. ostrich cull to go ahead despite RFK Jr. intervention

The U.S. health secretary said in a letter last week that there was value in studying the ostriches’ immune response to avian flu

11 days ago·Canada

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The Epoch Times

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US Health Secretary Asks CFIA to Reconsider Culling Ostriches at BC Farm

U.S. Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has asked the president of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to reconsider plans to cull birds at a B.C. ostrich farm. The birds at Universal Ostrich Farms Inc. were exposed to avian flu and the CFIA has directed the more than 400 birds at the farm to be culled. However, the farm owners say the birds are valuable for research purposes as they likely have antibodies to the virus. Kennedy als…

13 days ago·New York, United States

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Global News

Lean Left

RFK Jr. asks Canadian regulator to reconsider ostrich cull at B.C. farm

U.S. health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is urging Canada to halt a planned ostrich cull in B.C., calling for a joint study of the birds’ immune response to avian flu.

13 days ago·Toronto, Canada

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