Watch: This exotic animal was spotted casually walking down a Kerala road

Time of India

23-05-2025

On an ordinary weekday in Kerala's Edathala, people were stunned to see something completely unexpected– an ostrich casually roaming around in a busy street. The unusual sight in the Ernakulam district quickly grabbed the attention of both locals and the internet.
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Videos of the massive bird wandering through traffic went viral, leaving many people amused, surprised, and a little concerned.
Unexpected sighting on a crowded street
The large bird, usually seen in open grasslands, was spotted walking along a road lined with vehicles and curious onlookers. A video shared by the Instagram page Feels of Kochi shows the ostrich calmly moving down the street while a man on the side gestures, possibly guiding it.
Surprisingly, the bird seems to respond calmly and continues walking without causing any traffic trouble.
Watch the viral video here:
The video quickly went viral, with many people expressing shock and disbelief at the unusual sight of an ostrich casually making its way through a busy road.
Privately owned pet, confirm authorities
Reacting to the incident, Liji Rakesh, president of the Edathala panchayat, confirmed that the bird belonged to a local resident.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, she said, 'The ostrich is among three or four such birds being reared by a private individual at his home. They are being taken care of as pets. That day, one particular ostrich got loose and came out on the road, where people were surprised and took photos and videos.
It may have travelled a few hundred metres before it was caught and brought back to the individual's home.
A lot of people called me asking about it after videos of it went viral on social media.'
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Although the bird was safely brought back without any harm, the brief escape raised questions about how exotic animals are kept and managed in residential areas. The incident sparked curiosity and concern among viewers about the safety measures in place for such pets.
Online reactions mix humour with surprise
Social media was quick to react, with users posting a variety of responses ranging from disbelief to humour.
Comments such as 'Someone is playing Jumanji for real' and 'That bird's got better road sense than most drivers here' flooded platforms.
Others used the moment to highlight Kerala's uniqueness. 'Just Kerala things– elephants in the temple, ostriches on the street,' one user wrote. Another added, 'Imagine getting stuck in traffic because an ostrich is taking a stroll.' Praising the man guiding the bird, a comment read, 'That guy directing the bird deserves a traffic cop badge.'