27-3-2024 (SEONGNAM) In a scene straight out of a zany comedy, the sleepy town of Seongnam, South Korea, found itself in the midst of an avian adventure on Tuesday morning, as an escaped ostrich sent motorists into a frenzy of bewilderment and smartphone cameras blazing.
The feathered fugitive, a four-year-old male ostrich aptly named Tadori, made a daring break for freedom from the confines of Bug City Zoo, located a mere half-hour’s drive south of the bustling capital, Seoul. Witnesses could scarcely believe their eyes as the towering bird, standing at an impressive height, trotted speedily past and across traffic, narrowly dodging vehicles in the heavy morning commute.
Social media was soon abuzz with pictures and videos of the unlikely escapee, his powerful legs carrying him across roads and into parking lots, much to the astonishment of onlookers. “I thought I was seeing things,” exclaimed one driver, caught in the midst of the chaos. “But there it was, this massive bird just strutting along like it owned the place!”
An ostrich was on the run this morning in the streets of Seongnam City, South Korea, after escaping from a nearby ecological experience centre.pic.twitter.com/HiKKhVmb9d
— Raphael Rashid (@koryodynasty) March 26, 2024
In a coordinated effort, local police and fire departments sprung into action, eventually corralling the elusive ostrich at a nearby car park using a large net, approximately 2.6 kilometers from the zoo grounds. “It was like a scene out of a slapstick movie,” remarked one firefighter, still catching his breath. “That bird could really move!”
While the feathery maverick’s motivations remain a mystery, zoo owner Choi Yun-joo speculated that loneliness may have played a role in Tadori’s daring escapade. “His only friend, a female ostrich named Tasooni, passed away about a month ago,” Choi revealed solemnly. “Guess that has been tough on Tadori.”
