Ostriches have the mother of all kicks

Mar 27, 2019

if it stumbled on a poacher picking its kick, he risks a kick that can kill a charging lion.

WILDLIFE
 
An ostrich's kick makes Moses Golola's  a none starter if compared. The Baganda, Batooro and Banyonkole call it Maaya as the Swahili suffice with Mbuni and Inyofe among the Bagisu.
 
To clap your eyes on it takes one a trip to Kidepo Valley National Park where it keeps a distance to human beings.
 
"But we have them at Uganda Wildlife Education Center in Entebbe," boasts the public relations officer Scovia Musiimenta. "Do you know that it can sprint at a speed of between 30-50 km/hr for 30 minutes?"
 
True to her word, records have it that an ostrich can bolt even faster at a pace of 45-70km/hr when starting.
 

 

 
As if that is not enough detail about this wonder bird, Musiimenta says although it is one of the biggest birds in the world, it has an eye which is much bigger than its brain.
 
Down in Kidepo ranger, Philip Akoromwe says the prized bird, which does not fly, weighing between 120-160kg is threatened by poachers. It stands more than two meters tall. Their eggs weigh almost 1.5kg.
 
"They eat it as game meat," lamented Akoromwe. "Others take its eggs as mementoes to their homes. Given an opportunity to hatch them, it takes 42 days, for the little one to pop out of the shell."
 
Talk about its kick and Musiimenta testifies if it stumbled on a poacher picking its kick, he risks a kick that can kill a charging lion.
 
"The energy comes from its menu which comprises of: grass, roots, leaves, flowers, lizards and baby tortoises."
 

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