Ostrich sticks its neck out at passersby in Jerusalem

Gilo residents unable to hide their heads in the sand when they see a large ostrich wandering through the streets

Residents of the Gilo neighborhood of Jerusalem on Sunday whipped out their cameras as an ostrich casually sauntered through its streets in the late afternoon.

The ostrich, which had no identifying marks, strolled through the neighborhood for several hours before the Veterinary Service managed to apprehend it.

A Veterinary Service investigation revealed that an Israeli resident had been raising the ostrich without the knowledge or permission of the service or the Jerusalem Municipality.

The owner told the Veterinary Service that he had illegally purchased the female ostrich as a chick from the market in Kfar Kassem and raised her in his home.

Initial reports claimed the ostrich had escaped from Jerusalem’s Biblical Zoo. But upon contacting the zoo, Channel 2 news was told “they were not missing an ostrich.” Videos filmed by passersby documenting the ostrich’s adventures were quickly uploaded to YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exrvy7I8pJw

The Jerusalem Municipality responded to the incident humorously, updating their Facebook page prior to the capture of the ostrich that “at this very time, an ostrich is wandering through the streets of Gilo. We are in pursuit of her and will keep you updated.”