A flightless bird sounds harmless, doesn't it? After all, a bird without the proper use of its wings is basically a creature with two less-than-functional arms, right? Well, that might be true, if it wasn't for the fact that some flightless birds can run up to 70 km per hour and stand at around 9 feet tall. Yeah, I don't think you'd want to mess with something like that.
Male ostriches can weigh over 150 kg, stand up 2.8 metres tall, and can run for an extended time at an average of 55 km per hour - the fastest two-legged creature on the planet. While the ostrich is known for hiding itself by lying flat against the ground (the head in sand behaviour is a myth) or simply running away when its in danger, it can pack a serious kick with its powerful legs if cornered.
Ostriches are more likely to run away in most encounters, but when they are defending their offspring from predators, they have been known to even kill lions. So, chasing one down in the desert for a laugh... maybe not the best of ideas.
I'm assuming most of you don't need to be told not to start a fight with an ostrich, or even come too close to one, but some people have a little less common sense. Check out the video below to see a shirtless man chase one down, and find out exactly why this was such a bad idea:
Somehow this man got away from this encounter without any serious injuries, but this could have gone a completely different way had lady luck not been on his side...
