The heat is on for ostriches in South Africa

In the Klein Karoo extreme heat has plagued the ostrich farmers again. About 250 ostriches have died from heat exposure in temperatures of more than 50 degrees Celsius, Beeld newspaper reported on Thursday (10 February 2011).

Birds of between four and five months old that were vulnerable to heat exposure. Ostriches of this age cost about R2 500 per bird (250 x  R2500 is estimated @ about ZAR625,000 / $100,000 losses). Climate change and extended summers may result in ostrich growing areas like the Karroo susceptible to increased ostrich fatalities in the future.


"Dr Adriaan Olivier, head veterinarian and manager of research and development at the Klein Karoo International Farms, said that the ostriches were not able to cool down as the temperature of the air was warmer than their body temperature of 38 degrees Celsius. "The only way that these semi-desert birds can cool down is to gasp but this doesn't work when it is so hot and ostriches die of organ failure,"
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Heatwave-kills-250-ostriches-20100211