An ostrich farm in Edgewood, B.C., is fighting to save its herd of 400 birds after an avian flu outbreak led to a federal order to cull the animals. Universal Ostrich Farms Inc. is seeking an exemption from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), hoping to use the outbreak to study the disease and develop solutions that could benefit both ostriches and other bird species.

As per The Canadian Press, the farm is part of an ongoing international project studying COVID-19 antibodies in ostriches, and the owners believe these birds could help in understanding how avian flu spreads and how to manage it in the future.

The farm has already lost about 10 per cent of its herd, primarily among younger birds, due to the flu, which spread after a flock of wild ducks came into contact with the farm. Despite the losses, the farm’s owners argue that many of the remaining ostriches are healthy and could be utilized in important research to better understand avian flu.