A guide with Highgate Ostrich Show Farm shows the techniques to control the ostrich as he rides on it on April 7, 2009. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]

It would appear the fleet of foot bird would be able to escape from the clutches of any potential predator in the wild. However, Ben van der Merwe pointed out there is one exception. The meerkat population around Highgate farm is their only concern. 

"The lions are the only ones who can catch them in the wild, because the lions don't fight one by one. They fight them in a pack. So should ostriches gain no chance against the lion? But in farms around here, they are fairly safe, because there is no lion. The only problem we've got is the meerkat, the small animal, who kills the baby ones. This is the only problem the farm has got yet."

But we shouldn't consider the bird to just be subject to attacks. Ben van der Merwe warns visitors the ostrich may sometimes become an unexpected attacker when guests show an interest in a feeding program offered in the guided tours.

"Remember they are dangerous - that an ostrich can kill a human. They hurt you with the beak. The beak is harmless, but they love shining things, like your ear-rings, your glasses. They love it! The reason for that is they've got no teeth. They've good stomach instead for one or two and a half kilograms of stones to grind the food.'

While some visitors experienced hand feeding the ostriches, others found fun in learning about ostrich eggs from the guide. Guests were encouraged to stand on the eggs, and one visitor described the feeling:

"They feel like the big pebbles paved on the passages for the elderly in our residential communities in Shanghai."

When discussing the ostrich egg, Ben van der Merwe revealed it is equivalent in size to 24 ordinary chicken eggs and the largest ostrich egg in the world could feed 12 to 16 people in one meal.