Fun Facts: Ostriches

Did you know that?

• Ostrich have bigger eyes than any other living vertebrate on land. With their acute eyesight and hearing they can sense predators like lions from far away. 
• When being pursued by a predator, ostriches have been known to reach speeds in excess of 70 km per hour (45 miles per hour), and can maintain a steady speed of 50 km per hour (30 miles per hour).
• They have an external ear unlike any other bird.
• They have unique pubic bones that are fused to hold their gut.
• They have no feathers on their legs.

• The bird stands on two toes, with the bigger one resembling a hoof. This is an adaptation unique to ostriches that appears to aid in running.
• The neck is so flexible that they can pick anything on it using its own bill.

• They have 50–60 tail feathers, wings have 16 primary, four alula and 20–23 secondary feathers.
  
• Females and young males are greyish-brown and white. The small vestigial wings are used by males in mating displays. They can also provide shade for chicks. The feathers are soft and serve as insulation, and are quite different from the stiff airfoil feathers of flying birds. There are claws on two of the wings' fingers.
  
• Their chest is bare which the ostrich covers using its wings when sleeping or feeding.
• They have strong and long legs.
• Ostriches live in nomadic groups of 5 to 30 in Samburu. They often move together with other grazing animals such as zebra and antelopes. They feed on seeds and other plants and will occasionally eat insects. 
• They swallow pebbles to aid digestion.
• An adult ostrich typically carries about 1 kg of stones in its stomach.
• When threatened, ostriches run away, but they can cause serious injury and death with kicks using their powerful legs

 Heritage Hotels (Kenya) manages one luxury camp in Samburu National Reserve, the Samburu Intrepids Camp. A lush oasis on the banks of the great Uaso Nyiro River, this tented lodge is a delight to be in – deliciously cooled by the river breeze and the forest. Report and pictures by Steven Tilas, Naturalist, Samburu Intrepids.  ©Heritage Hotels Ltd, Kenya. http://www.heritage-eastafrica.com/

Ostrich Chicks Get Second Chance

In September 2012, Lkaana Letipo saw eagles and vultures soaring in the sky while he was out with his goats. Curious he went to see what was there. He found ostrich chicks by the carcass of the female. On closer inspection, it was lions who had killed the mother.

Lkaana reported the matter to the park ranger Mike Lesil. Mike introduced him to me.  In Samburu there’s a saying - ‘Samburu is a reserve where nature dies itself’ – but this time round, we decided to help these chicks by giving them a second chance to live.

One month old chicks cared for by Lkaana

   

                        

 

Lkaana helping at the eco-garden

We brought them to Samburu Intrepids Camp. The chicks were frightened at first and unable to run away fast, they would fall to the ground and stretch out their necks in an attempt to look invisible.

Update

The two brothers and sisters weigh between 30-40 kgs. We weigh them once a week. They grow about 7 cm per week and from two months they put on 5 kgs per week or more.

 The bill has no teeth

The ostrich have wide nostrils which are very good for smelling

Fight with the Baboon

The wound on the neck is two weeks old. The ostrich was injured by a baboon which was raiding our eco-garden. The baboon found the ostrich eating sukuma (Kale) and decided to snatch it away from the ostrich. The ostrich became aggressive and tried to keep the baboon away but unfortunately the baboon scratched it on the neck. We applied Caraluma dumeri, a species of cactus whose sap helps the wound dry very fast.

The ostrich is now 1.7metres tall and very social.

Are they dangerous? NO!  Ostriches typically avoid humans in the wild. If approached they run away. However, ostriches may turn aggressive rather than run when threatened, especially when cornered. They may also attack when they feel the need to defend their offspring or territories. Similar behaviors are noted in captive or domesticated ostriches, which retain the same natural instincts and can occasionally respond aggressively to stress.

When attacking a person, ostrich kick with their powerful feet which are armed with long claws. They are capable of disemboweling or killing a person with a single blow.

We hope to release the chicks back to the wild in future.

Strange but true

In 2001, 2002 and 2003 a lioness adopted three Oryx foals – at different times in Samburu national reserve.

Heritage Hotels (Kenya) manages one luxury camp in Samburu National Reserve - Samburu Intrepids Camp. A lush oasis on the banks of the great Uaso Nyiro River, this tented lodge is a delight to be in – deliciously cooled by the river breeze and the forest. Reports and pictures, Steven Tilas, Naturalist, Samburu Intrepids. ©Heritage Hotels Ltd, Kenya. http://www.heritage-eastafrica.com/