The amazing ability to run 70km/h (45mph) for up to 30 minutes has earned the ostrich the reputation as the world’s fastest creature on two legs. It cannot fly but instead uses its incredible running speed and stamina to evade predators. It is the largest of all living birds, standing at 2m (7ft) tall. Its height and well honed senses make the ostrich quick to detect danger and it often provides other African grazing animals with an early warning signal.

Restless Nomad
In the wild, ostriches are semi-nomadic and travel long distances to find grass and other plant food. While they normally inhabit arid environments, they enjoy having a bath when the opportunity arises. They live in flocks of between five and 50 and are normally found with other grazing animals, such as antelopes and zebras. As well as running away from predators, they can defend themselves by kicking with their powerful legs and have been known to kill with one blow. Spurs on the tips of their wings are also used in fighting.

Victims of Fashion
Ostriches were almost wiped out in the 18th century when they were hunted for their hide, which makes a fine leather, and for their feathers, which were used to decorate ladies’ hats. The practice of farming ostriches instead of hunting them, in 19th-century Africa, helped reverse this trend. Changing fashions saw the demand for their feathers drop dramatically, and they were able to establish a stable population. Until the 1940s, ostriches also lived wild in Syria and Arabia, but appear to have been hunted to extinction; now, they can only be found in the wild in Africa.

A Joint Effort
When courting, the cock ostrich scrapes out a hollow in his territory to which he lures the female, dancing, puffing out his feathers and swaying. She lays her eggs there and becomes his ‘major hen’. He also mates with other hens, who lay eggs there too, but only the major hen and male incubate the eggs. She takes the day shift and the male, due to his darker colouring, takes the night shift. Ostrich eggs are the largest in the world, weighing up to 2.3kg (5lb). Once hatched, the parents take good care of their young until they reach their full height and become independent at one year old.

Fussy Eaters
Ostriches live mostly on plants, but will occasionally eat locusts or animal remains left by meat-eating predators. They can be fussy feeders, eating just the seedheads of grasses and certain flowers. They also feed on fruits, seeds and nuts and, if necessary, can survive without water for long periods. Ostriches have a 14m (46ft) long intestine, which breaks down items that would be unpalatable to other creatures. They swallow pebbles and sand which are stored to help grind down tough plant material. An ostrich in captivity needs about 3.5kg (8lb) of food per day.