Ostrich Attack Made the News!!!
What are the odds it happened twice...sorry I couldn't resist posting the article! The thread about this on QL was too funny! :D
Ostrich attack survivor says ‘lucky to be alive’
Publish Date: Wednesday,2 January, 2008, at 12:13 PM Doha Time
By Fran Gillespie
Simon Flynn ... close shave
“I’M lucky to be alive,” said British resident Simon Flynn after surviving repeated attacks by an ostrich at a reserve on the west coast of Qatar.
During the Eid holiday, Flynn decided to go for a stroll on the Abrouq peninsula. He was aware that there are both reem gazelle and ostriches in the area, released about two years ago by the Supreme Council for the Environment and Natural Reserves (SCENR).
Flynn had seen the signboard welcoming the public to the reserve and warning them to keep away from the wildlife. He had no intention of going anywhere near the ostriches. But what he didn’t know was that these birds can be extremely aggressive and dangerous during the breeding season, which is beginning around now. The signs make no mention of this.
Having parked his vehicle, Flynn was walking south towards the ‘traditional Arab town’ film set which is a major visitor attraction at the Ras Abrouq oasis. He became aware of a full-grown ostrich approaching him from some distance away. He turned and started to walk back to his car but the bird made a detour around him until it could approach him from the front again.
“It zig-zagged slowly towards me,” said Flynn, “and then it suddenly came at me.” He fell to the ground and during several attempts to get up and run he was repeatedly kicked in the chest and pecked. Fortunately the guard at the film set heard his shouts for help and ran with a stick to drive the bird off.
Flynn ended up with multiple cuts, contusions and bruises. The kicks to his chest resulted in such massive bruising that he was X-rayed at Hamad Hospital for suspected broken ribs. He was also given an injection against tetanus.
‘Welcome to reserve’ says sign but ‘Keep away’ says SCENR official.
After earlier reports of aggression by ostriches to visitors to the Abrouq area, Gulf Times contacted Ghanem Abdullah, the Director of Reserves at the SCENR, in February 2006 to ask whether something could be done to prevent further confrontations and avoid either accidents to people or stress to the birds. At that time Abdullah stated that people should keep away from the reserve, despite the signs apparently welcoming them to it, and that if anyone was injured they had only themselves to blame.
He also said that notices warning the public had been placed in the Arabic press but not in the English newspapers because he believed that Western expatriates never visited the area.
Ras Abrouq is a popular venue for weekend and holiday walkers, campers, kite surfers and swimmers, both Qatari and expatriate. It has spectacular scenery, long sandy beaches and sea views. Even before the colourful film sets were built in 2001 the green oasis with its deep well attracted bird-watchers who came to look at the large variety of migratory species sheltering there, and botanists interested in the range of plants. The area also has some of the most important archaeological sites in Qatar.
The biggest of the four sub-species of ostrich, those at Ras Abrouq are the world’s largest bird, standing 2.7 metres (nine feet) tall. A native of the open savannah region of Africa, their kick is as powerful as that of a horse and they can rip open a human body with a kick from their sharp-clawed feet, causing death from loss of blood, or crush ribs with a direct blow to the chest. Unlike a horse they kick forwards and because of the relative heights of birds and humans the blows often land on the chest or abdomen.
Every year world-wide a number of deaths occur, the majority, oddly enough, not in Africa but in Australia where commercial ostrich-farming has long been established.
In Africa, ostriches have even been known to kill large predators such as lions with their powerful kicks. They can sprint at 70kph and run over long distances at 50kph. So trying to run away when an ostrich threatens attack is not an option. The safest procedure is to sit down on the ground, crouching low and covering the head with the arms, until the bird moves away or help arrives.
A slightly smaller species of ostrich, Struthia camelus syriacus, once roamed the deserts of Qatar, and pieces of ostrich shell turn up on archaeological sites. Apart from the contents being a welcome source of protein, the eggshells made useful water containers. This species is now extinct, the last bird being killed in the Hasa province of eastern Arabia in 1945.
In common with all ostriches, the birds at Ras Abrouq live in a small herd dominated by an alpha male, and eggs are laid by several hens in the dominant hen’s nest which is scraped into the ground by the male. Although the nest may contain eggs from a number of birds the chicks are always raised by the dominant pair. Only about 10% of the eggs laid actually hatch.
Gulf Times contacted Richard Switzer, the bird curator at the Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation near Shahaniya, where a number of ostriches are kept in large enclosures.
Switzer confirmed that both male and female ostriches can be extremely aggressive and territorial during the breeding season and that kicks can be fatal.
“In captivity, staff use extreme caution when collecting eggs - it is often necessary to enter the enclosure with two vehicles,” he said.
“When one person is collecting the other is keeping a sharp eye on the ostriches. They have very small brains in comparison with their huge size, and their behaviour is quite unpredictable.”
The SCENR has been notified of the recent attack. Khalid Saleh Thabet, the Media Centre Director at the SCENR, told Gulf Times that at a meeting held on Monday a decision was taken to upgrade and increase the signs at the Abrouq reserve, warning the public of the danger. This work would be carried out within the next two weeks, and all sections of the media would be informed. At future meetings the possibility of fencing off an enclosure for the ostriches would be under consideration, he said.
oh thanks for that silversurfer I was miss informed.
where is Jarir?
it was for a soap opera, set in Qatar 500 years ago.
I recommend Fran Gillespie's book on Qatar, QR 100 at Jarir - 's'all in there.
SS
HIya speed nice to see you here again.
No I don't, why?
So do you like my new pic. Thanks to you I can now upload my photos. My other friend says my other pic was giving her a fright so I had to remove it.
Do You know why the Ostrich was running away from you ?
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I am sorry to here about Mr Flynn's experiences.
I was there just before the new year and the place was lovely. Just park next to the gate. The Ostrich came running away from me when I got there. I tried to chase them for close up photography. The care taker was really helpful and even offer me some tea. Don't forget to offer him some small donation when you leave.
Does anyone know what movie they use this castle for? I'd like to see it.
of several thousand riyals right now.. Can't afford to post them on here or will get banned...
LOL. Well this isn't a German Shepard....but I think he's defintely questioning his sexuality....or his animals rights. :P [img_assist|nid=60533|title=gay dog|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]
"How come I can pick my ears but not my nose? Who made up that rule anyway? How come you say that's the way it is, that's just the way it goes, maybe you should decide for yourself what you can do and what you can say." Ani Difranco
alrighty folks would love to stay on and chat and see where this is headed for but duty calls(hubby's leaving for work again so gonna see to his needs then send him off to airport) see yall in a bit..cheerio
life's too short so make the most of it, you only live but once.......
you alright there scarlett??now wat are ya thinking??penny for yr thoughts......>waits for scarletts reply
life's too short so make the most of it, you only live but once.......
Owen's imagination...leave me aloneeeeee!!!!!!!!!....lol
[img_assist|nid=12867|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.
you know, i saw a lot of those last week...ohh wait, you said german SHEPARD...oops...
we are indeed way off with our thoughts this morn hmmm could it be the weather?? after the german shepard wat next??>sips more green tea
life's too short so make the most of it, you only live but once.......
chromosome from the female chromosome?? Look in their genes!! Ok so that was a biology nerd joke...sorry!
and yeah...nothing like standing on your head to figure out what's what or where...makes people look at you funny..
Owen...stop imagining and get back to work...;)
I'm picturing a male German Shepard in a beret and a diamond studded collar.
"How come I can pick my ears but not my nose? Who made up that rule anyway? How come you say that's the way it is, that's just the way it goes, maybe you should decide for yourself what you can do and what you can say." Ani Difranco
yeah i see 2 dogs or 2 cats having a go at it but i never go and check to see if they are 2 boys or not.....lol. now u cracking me up envisioning me checking them sexes of the animals when they having a go at each other......
life's too short so make the most of it, you only live but once.......
ufff...now im getting views of gay animals, how would it be and and and....*erase*erase*...*shuffling paper works..tries to concentrate on work*
[img_assist|nid=12867|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.
ah see gypsy i learn new things each day hangin out wif you folks on QL....and who says i am wasting my time in here....>winks
life's too short so make the most of it, you only live but once.......
haven't you ever seen two dogs (or other species) of the same gender having a go at it??? Always cracked me up...thinking..umm, you missed...
yeah owen my persian cat bastian is wondering wats wrong with his "MOM" and son is telling his dad that moms getting outta control these days lol all by herself in the puter room.....>chuckles(i really love u all in QL-muah)
life's too short so make the most of it, you only live but once.......
there are some animals who have homosexuell traits - it is true!!
They do SpiceMom! Haven't you ever heard of Big Gay Al's animal farm from South Park :P
"How come I can pick my ears but not my nose? Who made up that rule anyway? How come you say that's the way it is, that's just the way it goes, maybe you should decide for yourself what you can do and what you can say." Ani Difranco
am wondering if in the animal kingdom they too have a so called gay world?>where is my mind wondering to these days....tsk tsktsk
life's too short so make the most of it, you only live but once.......
you tell me spicemom...been smilling, grinning, trying to hold laughter in front of my colleagues coz of this...;P
[img_assist|nid=12867|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.
wat a nice way to start my day stories or ostriches and penises.....roflol
life's too short so make the most of it, you only live but once.......
canary.... She part i can understand for Boys ! what about He birds? do they take interest in Boys too ? ;-o
"why approach a bird if he/she is not interested in you lol."
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me as to where I am on here..sorry!! I shall go back to the original thread if i can remember where it was.....sighhhhhhh
lol...commment here are confusing me..got to make sure im not posting on the other thread..but still..:D hey dont mix it up guys..lol
[img_assist|nid=12867|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.
Don't always go for confrontation be passive sometimes, why approach a bird if he/she is not interested in you lol.
lol....better get that on video also, if ever...hmmmm on second thought better not come along the first place..:D
[img_assist|nid=12867|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.
Owen, thanks for saving my life from Scar ... i owe you a nice treat in ostrich farm now ;-0
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Indian penises !!!!!!!!
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big mind or little one?
we were going to use you for bait...owen, now our plan is ruined!!!
in my mind anyway!
(what does that say about my 'mind'?)
SS
hehehee ... owen, good you mentioned to me ! i won't join u guys now, i can imagine now Daru, Owen, JK, Scar n all others sitting on my back n kicking my a*s in ostrich farm.. lool
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SS
I can see you now...hair flying, mouth open,screaming...and the rest of us rolling around laughing...
might be the SPS syndrome...slim penis syndrome...take over the world to show everyone you are "bigger"...and how did this get on jass' thread? I think we took a wrong turn somewhere..
i will ride speed's back just in case an ostrich would attack me..lol..i hope this is not the place where darude is planning on takin us...otherwise...you will hear another story of this...
[img_assist|nid=12867|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.
well...let there be light....
thanks for the greeting!!! and a very happy new year to you also!!
but at least the had the greatest empire the world has ever seen!!!
(Maybe we did it to compensate for our tiny, thin appertenances?)
SS
Scar/ Gypsy ...... welcome back ! Happy belated Christmas n New year ...
there was darkness without you all in QL ;-)
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your story immediately popped into my head and lo and behold..it WAS you!! Just after stopping laughing so hard (you were VERY lucky by the way!) you are one good sport for letting us know what happened and for coming on and confirming jasskats story..thanks for the grins this morning!
I know the author of this story and getting rid of those Ostriches are a pet project of her's, since they are so dangerous. I know they released something like 20 of them and there are only 3 left, so, hopefully soon they will be all gone.
"How come I can pick my ears but not my nose? Who made up that rule anyway? How come you say that's the way it is, that's just the way it goes, maybe you should decide for yourself what you can do and what you can say." Ani Difranco
if trained right, the ostriches can be quite convincing in returning lost husbands/boyfriends...hence the scanning eyes...
Daru ... take my beep beep with you so that u can chase the Ostrich on it ;-)
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What could be the reason for Ostrich fetching men/boys ? don't tell me they have scanning eyes to find the balls ;-)
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good morning all.
silversurfer is good that u get to live to tell that tale...been there many times but the birds just couldnt be bothered eh. now we know they are only after the men/boys.....:O)(imagines DH and DS running for their lives)>me bad
life's too short so make the most of it, you only live but once.......
the Abrouq peninsula is north of Zekreet, above Dhukan (west side of Q).
SS
join me later this month then. make sure you do run fast.
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Can u guys tell me where is this place in Qatar i have never been there.
thanks
Respect 4 Everyone
It's my thread.... watch out before I start swinging away :/
tra la la
not a hijackable thread :)
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Thats what I do for you!
tra la la
always carry a baseball bat in ur car trunk and when it is approaching to attack you just crush its skull.
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Of course in a nice way...it really is such an odd goofy story!
tra la la
SS
I am sorry that you are hurt, but I was laughing so hard when I came across this article after remembering your thread!
You are infamous :D
tra la la
Well folks, I can tell you, it is not a coincidence - I WAS that boyy!
It was two weeks ago today, and my ribs are still very sore, the beak (?) gash on my back is slowly getting better, the bruises on my elbow are now yellow, and I am really messed up!
I am 6 feet and 1 inch, and it's head was above my raised arm as I tried to fend it off.
Scary city!
Don't go within half a mile of a loose ostrich is my advice!
Best
SS
How'd you know it was me? Was it the evil glint in my eye?
tra la la
JK .. you are already in the pic (left)
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hheheehe... SB ! i think you got the story ? it's all about balls ....
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I wanna play, count me in!
tra la la
You boys better watch your balls
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Good mental image!
tra la la
Good Morning JK .... well i think these Ostriches love to play football during these days ... so one should carry a football, incase of attack just throw the football and watch the game ;p
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