Common name: Ostrich
Scientific name: Struthio camelus
Conservation Status: Least Concern
At the zoo: Omari (female, 15y) and Oat (female, 12y); you can find them in our African Savanna near the front of the zoo.
Habitat:
Ostriches are found in sub-Saharan Africa in savannahs, grasslands, shrublands, and open woodlands.
Diet:
Ostriches feed on leaves, seeds, shrubs, grasses, fruit, flowers, insects, and carrion.
Median Life Expectancy:
11 years
Biology:
Ostriches are the tallest and heaviest of all living birds. Males are black and white, whereas female ostriches are grey-brown in colour. Being terrestrial and flightless, they have adapted to be very quick on the ground. They are the fastest runners amongst birds and can achieve speeds up to 70 km per hour. They are normally found around other grazing animals like antelope and zebras.
Ostriches are the only birds with two toes on each foot. The inner toe is adapted for running and is armed with a long claw used to defend themselves against predators that are fast enough to catch them. Ostriches have excellent eyesight - at 5cm in diameter, they have the largest eyes of all land animals!
Despite their status and large territorial range, the current population trend is decreasing due to the plume trade, hunting and habitat loss.
Fun Fact:
Did you know that an ostrich egg weighs 1.5kg and is the equivalent of 24 chicken eggs?!
