Ostrich breaks free from zoo before getting stuck in traffic

An ostrich broke free in the South Korean town of Seongnam before spending an hour dodging vehicles in heavy traffic, according to reports.

The male ostrich, named Tadori, became an internet sensation after witnesses posted pictures and video on social media, after he he escaped from the Bug City zoo and found himself stuck in traffic, a local police officer said, as per Reuters.

Police and a local fire department were able to catch Tadori with the use of net, at a car park some 1.62 miles away from the zoo.

The four-year-old ostrich was safely returned and is in a stable condition, the zoo's owner Choi Yun-joo told the outlet.

He revealed that Tadori has been under a cloud after a recent bereavement.

READ MORE: Ostrich eggs found around 4,000-year-old ancient fire pit

“His only friend, a female ostrich Tasooni, passed away about a month ago. Guess that has been tough on Tadori,” Choi said.

Ostriches are world's largest, heaviest, and fastest-running birds, as well as the fastest of all two-legged animals, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare website.

They can sprint at speeds of up to 43 miles per hour and, when when protecting themselves, they can unleash a kick powerful enough to kill a lion, it explains.

The creatures are native to Africa and aren’t naturally found outside the continent.

Researchers recently discovered an ancient site showing the importance of birds to nomadic communities dating back centuries.

In Janurary last year eggs estimated to be at least 4,000 and as much as 7,500 years old were unearthed around the remains of an ancient fire pit in Israel.

The rare finds were uncovered during the development of agricultural fields near Be’er Milka, in the Negev desert — some 70 miles south-west of Jerusalem — by archaeologists with the Israel Antiquities Authority.

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Ostriches were once common in the area, beginning in the early prehistoric periods, but had disappeared by the end of the 19th century.

Archaeologist Dr Amir Gorzalczany, also of the Israel Antiquities Authority, said: “We find ostrich eggs in archaeological sites in funerary contexts, and as luxury items and water-canteens.

“Naturally, they were used as a source of food — one ostrich egg has the nutritional value of about 25 normal chicken eggs!

“There is sometimes even evidence of decorating and incising on ostrich eggs, showing their use as decorative items.”

However, she added: “It is interesting that whilst ostrich eggs are not uncommon in excavations, the bones of the large bird are not found.

“This may indicate that in the ancient world, people avoided tacking the ostrich and were content with collecting their eggs.”