Lucas Robinson, a truck driver from Vancouver, is traveling 575 kilometers to Edgewood, B.C., to support Universal Ostrich Farms. He is bringing steaks, hamburgers, watermelon, and his dog. Robinson feels a strong responsibility to protect nearly 400 ostriches that have been ordered for culling after a protracted legal dispute that has attracted international attention.

"I don't know all the ins and outs. That's partly why I'm going up there. But, you know, they're trying to study their antibodies and the eggs and all sorts of things that the big pharma and other interests don't want happening," Robinson said. He added, "There's more going on, and they'll cull those birds over my dead body."

The Federal Court of Appeal recently denied the farm's request to halt the cull, which was mandated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) last December. This order followed the discovery of H5N1 avian flu in two deceased birds on the property. Despite this setback, the farm's legal team remains hopeful that the Supreme Court of Canada will consider their case.

Lawyer Umar Sheikh is working on an application for a stay of the cull while seeking permission to appeal to the Supreme Court. He noted that the threshold for the Supreme Court to hear a case is quite high. "Generally, it's a very high threshold. You have to seek leave, and the leave application, in and of itself, is fairly significant in terms of a piece of work," Sheikh explained. He emphasized the need to demonstrate that the case is worthy of the court's intervention.

The cull has faced opposition from various U.S. officials, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz, who is now the administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Earlier this summer, protests at the farm included campers who voiced their dissent against the cull.

According to the CFIA, 69 birds died at the farm in December and January. While the farm claims the remaining flock is healthy, the CFIA insists that culling is necessary to prevent the virus from mutating in exposed flocks. The agency has stated that there are ongoing risks to both animal and human health, as well as to the export market for Canadian goods.

Farm spokeswoman Katie Pasitney, whose mother co-owns the property, has called for supporters to gather at the farm to protect the ostriches. She urged them to "sit with animals that need protection" and encouraged peaceful protests. Posts on social media indicate that supporters are making plans to travel to the farm, with some suggesting a convoy or appealing to U.S. officials to relocate the birds.

Robinson, who grew up in a horse stable, expressed his deep connection to animals. "These ostriches are iconic, majestic birds. They're not a flock of chickens or something, right? Like, these things live decades, and they have personalities," he said.

The CFIA has stated it will not discuss operational plans regarding the cull but confirmed it is preparing for humane depopulation with veterinary oversight at the affected premises. The agency's latest report indicates that it continues to monitor the situation closely.