Runaway ostriches strike onlooker, hunting dogs

A group of onlookers helped catch one of two ostriches that had escaped a family farm in Zhengzhou, Henan province on Sunday, after a bystander and two hunting dogs were injured in the incident.

Wang Meng, the owner of the 2-meter-tall ostriches that each weigh nearly 100 kilograms, said that he was unaware of how aggressive the birds could be until they ran away that day, perhaps scared off by a crowd of people who had gathered not far from his home for a temple fair.

"We borrowed three hunting dogs to chase the ostriches back, but two of the dogs were struck by the ostriches' sharp claws and couldn't move afterwards," said Wang.

As the ostriches ran ahead, a group of bystanders caught one of the birds as it ran to a nearby gas station, and managed to bind the bird's legs with thick rope.

Wang eventually managed to catch the other bird at a bus stop and brought him home.

An onlooker was earlier struck by one of the ostriches as the bird ran through town, but was not seriously hurt. The dogs are also expected to make a full recovery.