The Little Rock Zoo has added four female ostriches, which can be found near the resident black rhino. The three-year-old birds came from the Roaming Acres Farm in New Jersey. The zoo notes their long necks and powerful legs.

In the wild, these flightless birds can reach speeds of up to 43 miles per hour. They use the long dagger-like claws on their two-toed feet to defend themselves, landing kicks that can kill lions.

“These birds are exciting to watch,” said Zoo Director Mike Blakely. “When they come close to the viewing area, you can get a sense of how big they are. They’re taller than many people. They’re magnificent animals and we’re proud to have them here at the Little Rock Zoo.”  

So you didn’t have to do it, I asked Google is ostriches really stick their heads in the sand. Answer:

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Ostriches don’t bury their heads in the sand—they wouldn’t be able to breathe! But they do dig holes in the dirt to use as nests for their eggs. Several times a day, a bird puts her head in the hole and turns the eggs. So it really does look like the birds are burying their heads in the sand!

I shared in an ostrich egg once. Emphasis on shared. They are big, equivalent to about 24 chicken eggs, Google says.

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