'Star' emu to be culled in bird flu outbreak

An animal sanctuary has said it is "devastated" after being told it needs to cull all its birds, including an emu called BB, amid an avian flu outbreak.

Happy Pants Ranch in Kent, home to mostly disabled or rescued animals, posted on Facebook that 61 birds will be killed after the virus was detected on the site.

"The only tiny amount of consolation I can take from all this is that none of these birds would have even been alive if it weren't for the ranch," said Happy Pants manager Amey James in a Facebook post.

"At least in the years they've been here, they've had more love, care and freedom than anyone could ever wish for," she added.