A zoo’s gardener was forced to use a whippersnipper to hold back an aggressive ostrich that had pinned him to the ground.
The maintenance worker was in the African Savanna habitat at Taronga’s Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo, New South Wales, two weeks ago when he got into the scrap.
Footage of the encounter has emerged which shows the man on his back as the aggressive male ostrich towered above him with spread wings.
A maintenance worker was forced to defend himself against an aggressive male ostrich using only a whippersnipper
In the footage the gardener can be seen slowly backing away at first, using his whippersnipper to try and keep the irate ostrich at bay.
The cutting device was not on at the time.
Undeterred, the giant bird launched numerous kicks towards the worker with its long talons.
The gardener was eventually forced back against a rock trying to use his feet to maintain distance between himself and the bird before sliding off and falling into the dirt.
Another worker is then seen coming over to assess the situation.
Taronga Zoo has confirmed that the man suffered only minor injuries and has since returned to work.
Male ostriches are known to become aggressive during mating season which lasts from June to late October or early November each year.
The attack happened two weeks ago in the African Savanna habitat at Taronga’s Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, New South Wales (pictured)
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