Ostriches with Superhero-Level Immunity: Get Ready to Fear Them!

When I visited my friend in Minnesota, I noticed a big eggshell that was decorated with paint and glitter in her room. At first, I thought it was a replica of a dinosaur egg. Then, my friend told me that it was actually an ostrich egg from the ostrich farm that her grandparents used to run. The idea of an ostrich farm* had never occurred to me before, and I couldn’t picture it in my head. I mean, they are ostriches! They are quite tall and feisty, aren’t they?

Yesterday, I wrote about penguins. While fact-checking, I learned that ostriches are another bird species that can’t fly. This reminded me of the giant eggshell I saw at my friend’s place, and I became curious about ostriches. So, here I am, googling “ostrich.” It turned out that they are spectacular yet funny. *I want to clarify that I am not promoting or encouraging anyone to start an ostrich farming business.

Here are some interesting facts about ostriches that I learned:

1. Ostriches are from Africa.

Ostriches are considered wildlife rather than domestic animals. Their large eyes, which are bigger than their brains, and long necks help them keep an eye out for predators, such as lions, in their natural habitat. Furthermore, ostriches can run really fast and are, in fact, the fastest runners among birds. Imagine this large bird (9 feet or 275 cm tall for a male ostrich) running full speed (45 miles or 72.5 km per hour)!

2. They are omnivores.

They consume whatever is available, but they eat mainly plants. As they lack teeth, they ingest food along with small stones to aid in digestion.

3. Male and female ostriches look slightly different.

It is common for male birds to have more colorful and gorgeous feathers than their female counterparts in the avian world. But, ostriches go with “less is more”: ｍost male ostriches have thick black coats with white feathers underneath, while many female ostriches have brown feathers. Additionally, male ostriches are generally taller than females.

4. They are not apt for trainability.

Despite their intimidating appearance, ostriches are not the smartest animals. Unlike intelligent birds such as crows and parrots, they usually cannot recognize their animal keepers. As a result, they can become angry and aggressive towards anyone who enters their territory. Be aware that a single kick from an ostrich can easily break a bone! Don’t assume they would be friendly like Big Bird from Sesame Street!

5. They co-parent.

Ostrich fathers dig holes in the ground to create a nest for ostrich mothers to lay their eggs. After the eggs are laid, they take turns to incubate the eggs for about 40 days. Once the eggs hatch, both parents work together to raise and protect their chicks from any potential danger. The ostrich chicks take approximately one and a half years to reach their full size. During this time, they stay with their family and are kept safe from other wild animals.

6. Ostriches have a long lifespan.

Wild ostriches can live for up to 40 years, while in captivity, they can live for up to 70 years. Anyone interested in owning an ostrich should be prepared for a long-term commitment and may even need permission from younger generations.

7. They are tough animals.

A team of veterinarians led by Dr. Yasuhiro Tsukamoto from Kyoto Prefectural University in Japan has developed masks that can detect the coronavirus.

These masks are unique in that they use antibodies extracted from ostrich eggs. Ostriches were chosen for their strong immunity, which is observed after their quick recovery from injury. The antibodies extracted from ostrich eggs have been tested for their effectiveness in hair growth and skin diseases. Although the application is still under study, Dr. Tsukamoto is optimistic about the potential of ostrich antibodies. The production of ostrich antibodies would be efficient in terms of quantity: one ostrich egg is equal to the amount of two dozen chicken eggs.

However, ostrich antibody production is a challenge due to difficulties in ostrich husbandry. Therefore, it may take a while before these antibodies become accessible. Nonetheless, there is no doubt that ostriches have incredible immunity. It is no surprise that my friend’s grandparents and great-grandparents are still leading healthy lives to this day. Ostrich eggs must have played a role in their remarkable health.

🥚

Takeaway

I don’t have anything to say except maybe leave nature as it is for our own sake. “Bird-watching” sounds like the right call when it comes to ostriches, instead of treating them like pets or farm animals for novelty.

Resource
Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. Ostrich.