Latest news with #ostrich
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
B.C. ostrich farm at heart of avian flu debate upbeat despite looming federal cull
Supporters of Universal Ostrich Farms stand near an ostrich at the farm's property in Edgewood, B.C., on Saturday, May 17, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Hemens EDGEWOOD, B.C. — The family that operates the British Columbia ostrich farm where some 400 birds face being euthanized by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says spirits remain high among protesters looking to stave off the cull. Katie Pasitney, whose parents own Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., say about 130 protesters are at the farm, and the group is holding an 'indigenous culture' prayer circle every morning. Pasitney says the atmosphere at the farm has been 'beautiful' despite the CFIA issuing a statement on Friday saying the farmers resisting the cull have not substantiated claims of scientific research on the birds that survived an avian flu outbreak. The federal agency says the infection at the farm is a mutation of the avian flu not seen elsewhere, and the cull is still planned while the farm has been fined $20,000. The statement is a rejection of proposals by U.S. officials, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. calling to save the affected ostriches. Pasitney says the farm is also working on a statement responding to what the CFIA said in its latest release in a bid to 'debunk' the federal agency's reasons for continuing the cull. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31, 2025.
Forbes
3 days ago
- General
- Forbes
A Biologist Spotlights The World's Strongest Bird. Hint: It Can Carry Up To 30 Pounds While Flying
Most birds are known for their speed and agility, not their strength. But there are a few species ... More that have both. Here's the bird that rules the roost when it comes to measuring strength in flight. The world's strongest birds, as measured by how much they can carry, are all flightless. The ostrich, for instance, can carry a human on its back. In fact, there are some farms in Africa where you can ride an ostrich, although the practice is generally discouraged. However, the more interesting question — at least in the eyes of this biologist — is which flight-capable bird is strongest. To be able to fly, you must first be light. This is why flight-capable birds have evolved in a specialized way to reduce their weight. Bird bones, for instance, are hollow and filled with air spaces connected to the respiratory system, which makes them lightweight yet strong. Many birds have fused or reduced bones to minimize weight and improve aerodynamic efficiency. They lack heavy teeth, using lightweight beaks instead, and they often have only one functional ovary to reduce internal mass. Even feathers, which seem delicate, are made of keratin and are engineered for both insulation and lift without adding unnecessary bulk. All of these adaptations work together to reduce weight while maximizing flight capability. The challenge then becomes how to maximize muscle density and efficiency while retaining a light, aerodynamic build. This is a problem that the harpy eagle — which can be found in southern Mexico, Central America and South America — has solved. Here is the story of the harpy eagle and why it earns the title of world's strongest flight-capable bird. The harpy eagle, widely regarded as the strongest flight-capable bird, can lift prey weighing up to ... More 30 pounds — nearly twice its own body weight. The harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) stands out due to its extraordinary strength. With a wingspan of up to seven feet and weighing between 13 and 20 pounds, the harpy eagle is built for power. What may be most impressive about the harpy eagle is its grip strength. It has talons as large as a grizzly bear's claws and can exert a pressure of over 500 pounds per square inch — strong enough to carry prey weighing up to 30 pounds. That's almost double its own body weight, a feat nearly unmatched in the aerial world. Living in the dense tropical rainforests of Central and South America, the harpy eagle hunts monkeys, sloths, and other medium-sized mammals that few other birds would attempt to target. It perches high in the canopy and swoops down to attack its prey. Despite its size, it can maneuver skillfully through the forest. (Sidebar: The harpy eagle doesn't just hunt monkeys — it's been known to attack humans. Learn more about the first scientifically documented case of an Amazonian harpy eagle attack on a 29-year-old woman.) Unlike soaring birds of prey that rely on long-distance gliding, the harpy eagle relies on brute strength and ambush tactics. A harpy eagle feeds on a rabbit — though it's capable of hunting much larger prey, including monkeys ... More and sloths. The harpy eagle isn't the only bird worth mentioning in the 'strongest flying bird' category. The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) also boasts impressive carrying capacity and flight strength. Weighing up to 14 pounds with a wingspan of about six to eight feet, bald eagles can lift prey weighing about as much as it does. Some videos document instances of bald eagles attacking and carrying small deer. While the bald eagle may not have the sheer strength of a harpy eagle, they are known for their stamina — often carrying heavy fish over long distances. Their talons are designed to pierce and grip slippery prey, and their large wings allow them to soar for hours using thermal currents, conserving energy while still transporting meals. Another contender is the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo). Though primarily nocturnal and not typically thought of in terms of strength, this owl is one of the largest and heaviest in the world. With a wingspan of nearly six feet and a weight of up to 10 pounds, it can lift prey close to its own body weight. The Eurasian eagle-owl primarily feeds on mammals and birds, including rabbits, foxes, and even other raptors. Its silent flight, thanks to specialized feather structure, gives it the element of surprise, allowing it to overpower animals nearly its own size. Are you an animal lover who owns a pet, perhaps even a pet bird? Take the science-backed Pet Personality Test to know how well you know your little friend.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
B.C. ostrich farm facing $20,000 fine over failure to quarantine, cull birds: CFIA
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says that an ostrich farm is facing a $20,000 fine over failure to quarantine and cull its birds. In a statement released May 30, the agency said Universal Ostrich Farm has failed to follow federal regulations, including not reporting the initial cases of illness and death at their farm, and failing to adhere to quarantine orders. "Universal Ostrich Farm was issued two notices of violations with penalty, totaling $20,000," the statement says, though it does not say when the fines were issued. The in-depth statement provides more details about the CFIA's inspection of the farm dating back to December 2024 and comes as U.S. officials, including health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz, have weighed in on the case, urging Canadian officials not to kill the birds. Many of the details in the statement, however, were already shared during a two-day court case undertaken after Universal Ostrich received an injunction staving off the order. This includes the fact that the CFIA learned that ostriches were dying through an anonymous tip, and that the farm did not quarantine its birds during the avian flu outbreak, which killed 69 of the approximately 450 birds on the farm, allowing wild animals and people to freely mingle with infected animals. "The farm also failed to undertake appropriate biosecurity risk mitigation measures such as limiting wild bird access to the ostriches, controlling water flow from the quarantine zone to other parts of the farm, or improving fencing. These actions significantly increase the risk of disease transmission and reflect a disregard for regulatory compliance and animal health standards," the CFIA's statement reads. The statement also says the farm has failed to substantiate its claims that the ostriches are being used for scientific research, stating that the "CFIA has not received any evidence of scientific research being done at the infected premises." The farm has repeatedly claimed that its birds are unique and can be used to develop antibodies to avian flu and COVID-19 but the CFIA says the farm was unable to back up those claims and that "further, the current physical facilities at their location are not suitable for controlled research activities or trials." Universal Ostrich has filed an appeal of the earlier court ruling allowing the cull to move ahead, though that appeal has not yet been accepted. The CFIA says the cull will move ahead, as is necessary to protect public health and Canada's economic agreements with other countries.
CBC
3 days ago
- Health
- CBC
B.C. ostrich farm facing $20,000 fine over failure to quarantine, cull birds: CFIA
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says that an ostrich farm is facing a $20,000 fine over failure to quarantine and cull its birds. In a statement released May 30, the agency said Universal Ostrich Farm has failed to follow federal regulations, including not reporting the initial cases of illness and death at their farm, and failing to adhere to quarantine orders. "Universal Ostrich Farm was issued two notices of violations with penalty, totaling $20,000," the statement says, though it does not say when the fines were issued. The in-depth statement provides more details about the CFIA's inspection of the farm dating back to December 2024 and comes as U.S. officials, including health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz, have weighed in on the case, urging Canadian officials not to kill the birds. Many of the details in the statement, however, were already shared during a two-day court case undertaken after Universal Ostrich received an injunction staving off the order. This includes the fact that the CFIA learned that ostriches were dying through an anonymous tip, and that the farm did not quarantine its birds during the avian flu outbreak, which killed 69 of the approximately 450 birds on the farm, allowing wild animals and people to freely mingle with infected animals. "The farm also failed to undertake appropriate biosecurity risk mitigation measures such as limiting wild bird access to the ostriches, controlling water flow from the quarantine zone to other parts of the farm, or improving fencing. These actions significantly increase the risk of disease transmission and reflect a disregard for regulatory compliance and animal health standards," the CFIA's statement reads. The statement also says the farm has failed to substantiate its claims that the ostriches are being used for scientific research, stating that the "CFIA has not received any evidence of scientific research being done at the infected premises." The farm has repeatedly claimed that its birds are unique and can be used to develop antibodies to avian flu and COVID-19 but the CFIA says the farm was unable to back up those claims and that "further, the current physical facilities at their location are not suitable for controlled research activities or trials." Universal Ostrich has filed an appeal of the earlier court ruling allowing the cull to move ahead, though that appeal has not yet been accepted.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Union president raises safety concerns for its CFIA members tasked with B.C. ostrich cull
The union representing Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) workers tasked with carrying out a cull at a B.C. ostrich farm says there are fears over the workers' safety as emotions run high. Over 400 birds at Universal Ostrich farm in Edgewood, B.C., face the prospect of a cull due to an avian flu detection in December. The CFIA, which is handling Canada's response to an ongoing avian flu outbreak, won a court case earlier this month and says the cull will go ahead due to concerns over the spread and mutation of the virus. But a vocal contingent of supporters — including U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — has spoken out against the cull, arguing the flightless birds, many decades old, pose little threat of spreading avian flu and the herd should be preserved for scientific have camped out at the Edgewood farm for weeks, saying they won't allow the cull to go ahead, even as farm spokesperson Katie Pasitney has repeatedly urged supporters to be peaceful, respectful and to follow the law. Now, the union representing CFIA workers says it's fearful for their safety, over online death threats it says were made against CFIA members. "Nobody likes to see their flocks culled, and we certainly don't take any pleasure in doing it, but ... it is our jobs, it's our mandate for the safety of Canadians to ensure that we carry out our job," said Milton Dyck, the president of the Agriculture Union, in an interview with CBC News. Dyck said that a CFIA vehicle in the area of the farm was also pelted with a rock, but he does not know if that was directly related to the planned ostrich cull. He said that the average worker was not responsible for the cull decision, which the CFIA says is due to wider concerns over virus mutation and the impact it could have on Canada's food supply. "Some people will be passionate about what their motives are for keeping the ostriches — whether they love ostriches, whether it's something that they feel personally about disease," he said. "But we have to look at it as we are doing a service to Canadians because we're protecting the health and safety of Canadians. We're protecting the value of the food chain going forward."In a statement, the union said it supported every individual's right to peaceful protest, so long as it does not obstruct the work of its members. While the CFIA has said the cull would be proceeding, it has not provided an exact date when it would occur.
