Page 51 - World of Animals - Issue #39
P. 51

Ostrich         Nearest
                                                                                       homeland            neighbours
                                                                                       These big birds are found   Ostriches share their home with
                                                                                        in many parts of Africa.   these other species













                                                                                                           Zebra
                                                                                                           Zebras and ostriches are usually
                                                                                                           found in close proximity. They alert
                                                                                                           each other to any dangers, as zebras
                                                                                                           have poor eyesight and ostriches have
                                                                                                           poor hearing so they can help each
                                                                                                           other keep safe from lion predators.









                                                                                  Ostrich distribution

                                                                                                           African elephant
                                                                                                           The ostrich and the African elephant
                                                                                                           share their grassland habitat rather
                                                                                                           peacefully and neither are a real
                                                                                                           threat to one another, although
                                                                                                           elephants have been known to attack
                                                                                                           ostriches in their way.












                                                                                                           Lion
                                                                                                           Although lions are feared predators,
                                                                                                           an ostrich could easily kill the big cat
                                                                                                           with one kick, so they usually keep
                                                                                                           their distance. However, lions will
                                                                                                           attack from behind, for example, when
                                                                                                           an ostrich is sitting on the ground.
                                                                                                                                  © Alamy; Getty; The Art Agency/Peter Scott; NaturePL; Shutterstock; Thinkstock











                                                                                                           Vulture
                                                                                                           While they mainly feed on carcasses
                                                                                                           of dead birds and mammals, Egyptian
                                                                                                           vultures also eat eggs. They have
                                                                                                           been observed in some parts of Africa
                                                                                                           picking up rocks and using them to
                                                                                                           crack open the hard outer shell of
                                                                                                           ostrich eggs to eat the insides.

                                                                                                                               51





       044-051_AA Ostrich.indd   51                                                                                          12/10/2016   15:04
   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56