A police officer stands near a wall of hay bales on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, which were placed earlier this week around the perimeter of the Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., to block the culling of 400 of the farm’s ostriches. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Hemens
Photo Gallery: Ostrich farm granted stay on cull
The mother and daughter at the centre of a movement to save their flock of 400 ostriches from a cull order had just finished a sombre and tearful prayer alongside supporters at their farm in British Columbia on Sept. 24, when they heard the Supreme Court of Canada had granted a last-minute stay, sparing the birds for now.
The cull was ordered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in response to an outbreak of avian influenza first detected at Universal Ostrich Farms last December.
Here are scenes from the farm after the stay was granted.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 25, 2025.
Supporters of the Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., look out towards a wall of hay bales on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, which were placed by supporters earlier this week around the perimeter of the farm to block the culling of 400 of the farm’s ostriches. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron HemensWorkers in hazmat suits drive by ostriches at the Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, past a wall of hay bales that were placed by farm supporters earlier this week around the perimeter of the farm to block the culling of 400 of the farm’s ostriches. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron HemensKatie Pasitney, the daughter of one of the owners of the Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., celebrates with a supporter after learning that an interim stay order was granted by the Supreme Court of Canada on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, delaying the culling of 400 of the farm’s ostriches. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron HemensKaren Espersen, the co-owner of the Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., celebrates with her daughter, Katie Pasitney, left, and her daughter-in-law, Kaylie Espersen, after learning that an interim stay order was granted by the Supreme Court of Canada on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, delaying the culling of 400 of the farm’s ostriches. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron HemensA supporter of the Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., celebrates after learning that an interim stay order was granted by the Supreme Court of Canada on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, delaying the culling of 400 of the farm’s ostriches. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron HemensKaren Espersen, the co-owner of the Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., celebrates with her family after learning that an interim stay order was granted by the Supreme Court of Canada on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, delaying the culling of 400 of the farm’s ostriches. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron HemensKaren Espersen, the co-owner of the Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., celebrates with her family after learning that an interim stay order was granted by the Supreme Court of Canada on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, delaying the culling of 400 of the farm’s ostriches. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron HemensKaren Espersen, the co-owner of the Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., celebrates with her family after learning that an interim stay order was granted by the Supreme Court of Canada on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, delaying the culling of 400 of the farm’s ostriches. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron HemensA police officer speaks to Universal Ostrich Farms co-owner Karen Espersen and supporters in Edgewood, B.C., shortly after learning that an interim stay order was granted by the Supreme Court of Canada on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, delaying the culling of 400 of the farm’s ostriches. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron HemensKatie Pasitney, the daughter of one of the owners of the Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., celebrates with a supporter after learning that an interim stay order was granted by the Supreme Court of Canada on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, delaying the culling of 400 of the farm’s ostriches. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron HemensEsper Espersen, the son of one of the owners of the Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., hugs a supporter after learning that an interim stay order was granted by the Supreme Court of Canada on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, delaying the culling of 400 of the farm’s ostriches. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Hemens
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