Bird Flu
What is the name of the disease caused by influenza viruses that mainly infect birds?
Avian Fluenza
In which province was this farm located?
Britsh Columbia
What ethical dilemma arose from the government’s decision to cull all 400 ostriches?
Whether it was right to kill healthy birds to prevent disease spread
What was the government’s main argument for culling all 400 ostriches?
To prevent the spread of avian influenza (H5N1) and protect public and poultry health
How long can ostriches typically live?
30-50 years
Which specific strain of bird flu was found on BC ostrich farm?
H5N1
What is the name of the ostrich farm involved in the 400-bird cull?
Universal Ostrich Farm.
What is the ethical issue related to the balance between public health and individual property rights?
Deciding whether the goverment can destroy private animals to protect the population
What argument did the farm owner make against the cull?
That many ostriches were healthy or naturally immune and the cull was unnecessary
What is the average weight of an adult ostrich?
Between 300-700 lbs
What is 2 of the 3 ways the bird flu can spread between birds?
Direct contact, cantaminated surfaces or infected droppings
How many ostriches were estimated to be at the farm before the 2025 cull?
About 400
Why did some people argue that the farm’s approach to avian flu was ethically responsible?
They claimed the birds could have survived due to natural immunity
What economic argument did the farmer use in his opposition?
That the cull would destroy his business and investment without fair compensation
What is the approximate height of an adult ostrich?
About 2.1–2.8 meters (7–9 feet)
Which Canadia agency handles bird flu outbreaks on farms?
The Canadian Food Inspection agency
Ostriches on the farm are primarily raised for these 2 purposes
Eggs and meat
Why was the method of killing the ostriches a point of ethical debate?
People questioned whether the approach used caused unnecessary suffering and pain to the birds
What compromise or middle-ground solution did some opponents suggest?
Quarantine, testing, or selective culling rather than killing all birds
What continent are ostriches originally from?
Africa
What is the policy called where all birds on an infected farm are killed to stop disease?
The "stamping out" policy
How did the public react to the proposed cull at the farm?
There was alot of controversy, protests, and media attention
Whcih ethical ideology of “minimizing harm” relates to this situation?
Utilitarianism
What compromise did some experts suggest to reduce harm while controlling the virus?
Testing birds and selectively culling only infected ones instead of all 400.
How fast can an ostrich run?
Up to 70 km/h