( CNN ) -- For some 100 years , tourists have flocked Arenhold Hooper 's ostrich family farm in Oudtshoorn , the South African city renowned as the ostrich capital of the world , to ride its long-legged , long-necked birds . Today , however , Hooper 's Highgate Ostrich show farm is devoid of both birds and people after tests showed that a major avian flu outbreak in the region has infected his birds . As a result , all of Hooper 's 1,500 ostriches have been culled . `` We do not have a business at this stage , our business is closed , '' says Hooper , whose farm has been empty eight months now . `` Tremendously frustrated -- it has been a battle of unanswered questions , it has been sleepless nights , it has been staff concerns , it has been financial concerns . We still do not have the green light so the sleepless nights and the frustration still carries on , '' he adds . Hooper is just one of the hundreds of Oudtshoorn farmers facing tough times after the H5N2 virus was first detected in the region in April -- the strain , officials say , does not pose a threat to humans but could mutate and affect poultry . More from Marketplace Africa : Agriculture must play 'critical role ' in Africa 's future . Since then , African authorities have imposed an exports suspension of ostrich products and banned restocking until the entire region is declared virus-free . In total , 41,000 ostriches have been culled . Officials say farmers whose animals were culled have received compensation of 50 million rand ( $ 6.5 million ) but warn that the impact on the industry , which accounts for up to 80 % of the world 's ostrich products , is still severe . `` The industry estimates that it is losing more than 100 million rand ( $ 13 million ) per month which is very serious , '' says Wouter Kriel , the spokesman for the Western Cape Provincial Department of Agriculture . `` The situation can not continue indefinitely and we very urgently need to try and get the industry back on its feet again , '' adds Kriel . South Africa is the global leader in ostrich farming . Its industry exports 90 % of its output , generates about 1.2 billion rand ( $ 155 million ) a year and provides direct job opportunities for 20,000 people in Oudtshoorn . Its main export product is meat , which is particularly popular in Europe for its low fat and cholesterol levels and accounts for more than 60 % of the industry 's turnover . Other items include leathers , eggs and feathers , used primarily to adorn fanciful costumes of carnival dancers , such as those cramming Rio de Janeiro 's streets this week . Read also : Rhino horn trade triggers extinction threat . Anton Kruger , head of the South African Ostrich Business Chamber , the business body representing the industry , says that Oudtshoorn 's meat-exporting farms that were spared the virus are also suffering the strain , hit by the European Union import ban on all ostrich meat from the area . `` They still have the ostriches in the farm , they keep on feeding them , they have to keep on paying their workers , '' he says . That is one of the big issues with the other farmers . '' Late last month , authorities announced that the seventh round of surveillance for the H5N2 virus were negative . If the next round of tests also yields negative results , then the government can deem the outbreak to be over -- it is only then that South Africa can apply to the European Union , their biggest importer of ostrich meat , to lift their ban and farmers can start restocking . But Kruger says even if the ban is lifted `` it will take at least three years for the industry to recover , '' affecting the livelihood of the area 's farmers . `` These are very rural areas with high unemployment figures so should the industry collapse in those areas it would have a very big , socio-economic impact , '' he warns . Read more : Ivory Coast seeks chocolate fairness for farmers . Back in Oudtshoorn , Hooper 's staff have started a government-funded retraining program just in case the farm never re-opens again , while those in the industry await the latest test results . Hooper , whose family has been running the farm for five generations , says he is determined that even if there are more delays in restocking , one day he will be able to get people riding his ostriches again . `` It is in our blood to do what we do and we will keep fighting for that , '' he says . `` I will not get out of this industry , I will keep fighting until we get birds back on this property and do what we have been doing for more than 100 years , '' adds Hooper .
South Africa 's livestock industry is facing tough times after a major bird flu outbreak . More than 40,000 ostriches have been killed since last year . Officials warn that the impact of the disease outbreak on the industry is severe . South Africa accounts for up to 80 % of the world 's ostrich products .