Day two of judicial review on fate of 400 B.C. ostriches [Video]

Legal counsel for both the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and an ostrich farm in the West Kootenay region continued their arguments Wednesday, the second day of a judicial review involving the fate of 400 ostriches.

Dozens of the birds died in December from an avian flu outbreak at Universal Ostrich Farms near Edgewood, prompting the CFIA to order a cull of the entire remaining flock.

The farm’s owners fought the order and received a reprieve earlier in the year pending the outcome of the review in federal court.

“The fact of the matter is our animals are alive, happy and healthy, and they’re thriving,” said Katie Pasitney of Universal Ostrich Farms. “To kill them right now would be cruel.”

According to farm operators, the birds have achieved herd immunity with no sign of illness since Jan. 15.

They also argue that this group of ostriches is scientifically valuable and part of …