An unexpected ostrich, standing higher than an adult, was recently spotted running through a motorway in Xuzhou, East China’s Jiangsu Province on October 23, 2024. Photo: a screenshot from CCTV

An unexpected ostrich, standing higher than an adult, was recently spotted running through a motorway in Xuzhou, East China’s Jiangsu Province, CCTV reported on Monday.

The local police station in Suining county, Xuzhou, received a call from the public reporting an ostrich running on the motorway on October 23. According to a video from CCTV, passing cars were getting out of the way to avoid the ostrich as it ran unpredictably and freely. Local police, along with bystanders, eventually managed to intercept the ostrich at an intersection.

The police found that the ostrich belonged to a nearby farmer and subsequently returned it to its owner, as reported by CCTV. According to the police, the owner had been occupied with fieldwork that day, which allowed the ostrich to escape through a gap in the fence.

The ostrich owner promised to be more vigilant in guarding the ostrich in the future to prevent future escapes, according to local police in Suining. The police reminded animal owners to take their responsibilities seriously and advised drivers in similar situations to prioritize safety. 

CCTV-Global Times