Ostriches are found free in the wild, on farms or can be seen on safaris. However, no matter where the encounter takes place, you should always treat them with the utmost caution. Although they do not prey on humans, these birds are known to have injured or killed the people who caused them. They are extremely fast in running and can deliver deadly kicks thanks to the power of their paws, without neglecting the sharp claws that their fingers are equipped with. The best thing you can do is to keep your distance; however, in case of need, the most useful techniques are to bend down for protection and to hide. If you have no alternative, you may even be forced to wrestle with a specimen.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Escaping a Charging Ostrich
Step 1. Run to a nearby shelter
Remember that an ostrich can reach speeds of 70km / h in open fields. If you are near thick vegetation or a wood that you can reach before the ostrich reaches you, take a sprint in that direction. Prevent the animal from moving at full speed to reduce the likelihood of it overtaking you.
- If there is a sturdier shelter than vegetation (such as a car or a man-made building), opt for this shelter. A kick from an ostrich has an impact of 35 kg / cm2, enough to kill a human being.
- If you think you can't do it, Not try to run. Ostriches are very fast and attack by hitting from behind as soon as they catch up with you.
Step 2. Hide
He finds reassurance that although these animals eat meat, they are limited to insects, small reptiles and rodents. Keep in mind that a provoked ostrich attacks humans because they feel threatened and not to prey on them. As soon as you get the chance, crouch behind an object that hides you from the bird's view, instead of risking a prolonged chase. The animal loses interest when it thinks you are gone.
Step 3. Climb
Remember that these birds cannot fly. If there are no hiding places available at ground level, climb a tree or other structure. Wait for the ostrich to disinterest and leave before it can return.
On average, an adult specimen is two to three meters tall. Although it has no teeth, it could hit you with its beak and throw you off balance. Try to climb as high as possible to stay out of his reach
Step 4. Find shelter among the brambles
Choose to get pricked by thorns rather than gutted by the razor-sharp claws of an ostrich. If there are no places to hide, jump into a thorny shrub and wait for the animal to leave before exiting.
Know that the ostrich will not stick its head into the thorny branches, to avoid pricking its big eyes
Step 5. Lie down on the ground
If the shelter or a raised structure is too far away, resist the temptation to run; instead play dead as a last, desperate attempt. Lie prone on the ground, cover your head with your arms to protect the skull, and prepare to be scrambled by the ostrich. Wait until he gets tired of you and then run away before he can return; know that with this technique you could be injured.
- The risk of injury caused by the violence of the impact of an ostrich kick is enormously lower when you are in the prone position. These animals kick forward and then down, even if the first phase of the movement is the one in which they impart the greatest force.
- However, the claws are a danger. Lie on your stomach to better protect your internal organs, as these animals may scratch you while you are on the ground.
- The ostrich may stay or even sit on top of you before it gets tired. An adult specimen reaches a weight between 90 and 160 kg.
Part 2 of 3: Chasing an Ostrich
Step 1. Use a long weapon
If you are forced to defend yourself against this animal's attack, avoid hand-to-hand combat. Try to keep yourself out of the reach of his paws as much as possible. Use the longer object you find nearby as a defense weapon, such as a pole, rake, broom, or branch.
If you have a firearm and need to use it, aim for the animal's body to make sure you hit the target. Although these birds attack with their beak or legs, the neck and limbs are quite thin and you may miss them easily
Step 2. Stand sideways to the ostrich
You must consider yourself more in danger when you are in front of the animal. Remember that he is only able to kick forward; if you stand behind him or to the side, you stay out of the reach of his most powerful weapons.
Step 3. Aim for the neck
This is the weakest part of the animal's body; hit him in the most vulnerable and least protected spot to defeat him quickly. If you miss this point, try to hurt him in the chest; focus your efforts on these two possibilities and keep striking until the bird gives up and runs away.
Step 4. Damage its wings
If the ostrich doesn't give up despite neck attacks, aim for the wings as soon as you get the chance. Know that this bird uses its wings not to fly, but to change direction more smoothly as it runs, just as the boat uses its own rudder. By damaging its wings, you can improve your chances of escape a little by zigzagging in case you are forced to retreat.
Step 5. Hit the paws
If you stand behind or to the side of the ostrich and have room for a leg strike, deliver it. Know that the center of gravity of this animal completely depends on these thin limbs. If you have the chance, hit one or both of its legs to cause it to lose balance, speed and power.
Part 3 of 3: Avoid Encounters
Step 1. Be aware of your surroundings
Whenever you are in an area frequented by ostriches, evaluate the landscape. Avoid open areas and stay close to those that offer protection; make a mental note of the safest spots to retreat to in case you encounter an ostrich who wants to attack you.
Step 2. Avoid close contact
Keep your distance when you spot any of these animals in the wild. Remember that any distance less than 100m is too short. If the bird moves towards you, it will back off even if it looks calm. Avoid putting a specimen in a corner, otherwise you stimulate the fighting instinct in it instead of the one to flee.
While images of people stroking, kissing and even riding ostriches may lead you to believe it is safe to approach these animals, remember that these are photographs of domesticated animals living on farms. Despite this, even these animals should be treated with the same caution and respect as wild ones to avoid injuries
Step 3. Watch out for ostriches during the breeding season
Consider that in this period they are easily irritable, especially the males, who have the task of protecting the eggs of the females. As these birds typically move in pairs or alone for the rest of the year, you can understand that this is mating season because you can see groups of 5 to 50 at a time.
- Recognize males by their black feathers, white wing tips and tail feathers, and the reddish area in front of their legs.
- Females have brown plumage with gray wing tips and tail feathers.
