Police have clarified that the helicopters flying over a British Columbia ostrich farm, which is facing a cull due to an avian flu outbreak, are not connected to the situation at the farm. RCMP Staff Sgt. Kris Clark stated that the flyovers, labeled as “psychological warfare” by the farm’s spokesperson, are unrelated to the farm’s current predicament. Video footage shared by the farm in Edgewood, B.C., showed a helicopter flying low over the property at night.
The low-flying helicopters near the farm were identified by the police as belonging to a Penticton, B.C., flight school conducting nighttime training with a spotlight. The farm has urged supporters to gather at the property ahead of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) mandated cull of approximately 400 ostriches. However, the CFIA has not disclosed any details or timing of the operation.
Farm spokesperson Katie Pasitney emphasized in a social media post that visitors should not be confrontational but mentioned the importance of a “last stand” to witness the fate of the ostriches, which the CFIA deems a continual risk. The farm’s owners assert that the ostriches are in good health and hold significant scientific value.
Despite the farm’s unsuccessful attempts to halt the cull in both Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal, and being denied a further stay of the cull order last week, they are preparing to seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada by October 3.
