Natural hatching of the world's largest bird "Struthio camelus" at the hunting reserve of Tlemcen – Algeria

Abstract

The ostrich, Struthio camelus, is an animal that lived in the wild in Algeria, but does not anymore. The hunting Reserve of Tlemcen (RCT) adopted some specimens of this bird in 2007. Since the introduction of this bird in the reserve until the year 2011, no spawning has been reported. The present work focuses on a couple of ostriches; the male is five years old and the female is four years old. All the conditions favorable for their reproduction were fully satisfied. In addition, an adequate arrangement and a diet adapted to the specifics of their digestive system were prepared for them. Consequently, several egg layings occurred starting from April 12, 2012. All the eggs were collected daily and then directed towards artificial brooding. Unfortunately, this operation did not give any positive results. Following this brooding failure, it was decided to opt for natural brooding which proved to be the right one since the female had laid eight eggs, which she incubated and gave birth, to five ostriches after hatching. The newborns exhibited good acclimatization to their new environment; these birds became breeders in 2016. This experience indicated that this type of breeding can succeed in Algeria and can have a major economic impact, on the one hand, and on the other hand, a possibility of reintroducing this species that has disappeared from our wild fauna.