RFK and Dr Oz offer refuge to 400 ostriches facing certain death in Canada
Robert F Kennedy Jr and Dr Mehmet Oz have offered refuge to a flock of 400 ostriches facing certain death in Canada.
The US health secretary and director of the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have intervened to rescue the flightless birds after British Columbia authorities pledged to cull them amid an outbreak of avian flu.
Dr Oz, a former television doctor, added his name to a list of activists fighting to save the ostriches and offered his 900-acre ranch in Okeechobee, Florida, as a potential sanctuary.
'We're sticking our necks out for the birds,' Dr Oz told The New York Post. 'The Canadians should stop putting their heads in the sand.'
Canadian authorities in December ordered all ostriches to be killed at a British Columbia farm after the highly contagious flu was detected in two bird carcasses.
A federal court upheld the order of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency earlier this month, prompting hundreds of protesters to flock to the farm to protect the birds.
The ostriches have received the backing of US health officials including Mr Kennedy, who argue that the infection has likely run its course through the flock already, giving the remaining birds immunity.
Dr Oz and Mr Kennedy joined John Catsimatidis, a New York supermarket billionaire and animal rights activist, in their bid to save the condemned animals and examine the effects of the disease.
'I'm thrilled,' Mr Catsimatidis told The Post. 'Bring the ostriches to Dr Oz in Florida where they will be safe. I agree with RFK and Dr Oz that the ostriches aren't sick.'
On Friday, Mr Kennedy wrote to the head of the Canadian food agency, claiming there would be 'significant value' in studying the ostriches' immune response to the virus.
The US is currently dealing with one of the largest outbreaks of avian flu in decades which sent egg prices soaring earlier this year.
'Ostriches can live up to 50 years, providing the opportunity for future insights into immune longevity associated with the H5N1 virus,' Mr Kennedy wrote.
'The indiscriminate destruction of entire flocks without up-to-date testing and evaluation can have significant consequences, including the loss of valuable genetic stork that may help explain risk factors for H5N1 mortality.
'This may be important for future agricultural resilience.'
'Biggest rooster shot dead'
Katie Pasitney, whose parents own the ostrich farm, thanked Mr Kennedy on social media.
'Thank you for trying to protect innovative science and these animals,' she wrote on Facebook. 'Together, I know that we can create the most magical change out of this most challenging opportunity.'
Amid heightened tensions on the farm, Ms Pasitney posted a video on social media claiming one of her 'biggest, beautiful roosters' was shot dead early on Saturday morning after a drone flew over the property.
Ms Pasitney said there was a 'clear entry and exit wound' through the bird, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has said they are investigating the death.
Dr Oz said he has spoken to Ms Pasitney and that she is open to him transferring the birds to his ranch.
'I can house the birds. She agreed,' he told The Post.
'It's not just about ostriches,' Dr Oz added. 'It's about all the birds. I'd rather the scientists make the determination — not bureaucrats. We found out what happened during the Covid pandemic, when the bureaucrats made all the decisions.'
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