A red-necked ostrich was born in the Aude, a first in France

A red-necked ostrich was born at the African Reserve of Sigean (Aude).

A birth that the park describes as "exceptional".

“It is the very first red-necked ostrich born in France, the only one born in Europe in 2021, and especially the first born in a natural breeding in Europe, explains the African Reserve.

Until now, all the outbreaks had taken place in an artificial incubator, in animal parks.

"

This birth was possible "thanks to the local climate and the drought" of the grounds of the park, "the African Reserve of Sigean being one of the rare places in Europe where ostriches reproduce naturally".

But the young parents were too inexperienced to carry out successful reproduction, the eggs had been placed in a breeding nest, which took over for brooding.

An endangered species

Hunted for its feathers, eggs and meat, this ostrich subspecies disappeared from its home territory, Africa, more than sixty years ago.

The red-necked ostrich is however the subject of a reintroduction program in the Maghreb.

The chick, a female, which is already visible to visitors to the park, will however never have a red neck, despite the name of its species: only males, when they grow up, develop this peculiarity.

"The female will remain brown all her life,"

Antoine Joris, veterinarian at the Sigean African Reserve

, explains to

.

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