More than 300 ostriches were shot dead on a farm in British Columbia, Canada, after authorities cited fears of bird flu. Disturbing images from the site showed hundreds of birds lying lifeless on the ground, some covered with tarps, while others had their heads cut off.

Katie Pasitney, who co-owns Universal Ostrich Farms, claimed that the culling had little to do with disease and more to do with silencing their medical research.

She told The Daily Mail that their farm had been developing antibody treatments from ostrich egg yolks and was showing strong results against several viruses, including COVID-19 and H1N1.

“They didn’t want our therapeutic bodies out,” Pasitney alleged. She claimed that the government deliberately induced the influenza outbreak after the farm reached out for funding.

Pasitney said ostriches naturally produce antibodies that can fight off major viruses, neutralising “99.9 per cent of coronavirus particles.” The farm was reportedly developing nasal sprays and face masks using these antibodies.

Her mother, Karen Espersen, had earlier told North Shore News in 2021 that she and her team had “inoculated our hens with the dead COVID-19 virus.” She explained, “The hen produces antibodies in two weeks, and two weeks after that, she puts them into her eggs.”

The trouble began in December when the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) received reports of ostrich deaths on the farm. Tests later confirmed that at least two birds carried the H5N1 avian flu virus.

Following the results, the CFIA ordered all 314 birds on the farm to be killed to prevent the spread of infection. The owners challenged the order in court and asked for more testing, but in June, Canada’s Federal Court of Appeal refused their plea. The culling was carried out on November 6.

‘It was like a war zone’

Describing the day of the shooting, Pasitney said the birds were put in a pen and shot dead by a firing squad.

“It was like a war zone,” she said. “They could have quarantined and monitored them, but they chose execution.” She added that some of the ostriches were over 35 years old and even had names. Those who survived the night in pain were reportedly beheaded the next day.

Responding to the outrage, the CFIA said the decision followed “standard protocols for controlling highly pathogenic avian influenza.”

“Given that the flock has had multiple laboratory-confirmed cases of H5N1 and the ongoing serious risks for animal and human health and trade, the CFIA is carrying out response activities at the infected premises,” the agency said in a statement.

The CFIA has not commented on the farm owner’s allegations regarding the medical research.