Escaped pet ostriches cause commotion before recapture in Bandung

BANDUNG, INDONESIA — Two pet ostriches roaming freely through a residential area in the Indonesian city of Bandung caused a commotion among residents and motorists before being safely recaptured and returned to their enclosure, local authorities said.

The incident occurred on Jalan Rancabolang in Buahbatu district, South Bandung, where the large flightless birds were seen wandering along public roads, an unusual sight in one of Indonesia’s densely populated urban areas.

Videos recorded by residents quickly spread on social media, showing the ostriches walking along the roadway as motorists slowed down and onlookers gathered to watch. The footage attracted widespread attention online because ostriches are rarely seen in Indonesian neighbourhoods.

Margasari village head Wahyu A Affandi said the birds belonged to a local resident and had escaped from a private enclosure.

“The ostriches have now been secured behind the owner’s house,” Wahyu said on Monday.

According to local authorities, the owner keeps two ostriches that have been raised since they were young. The birds escaped during a recent transfer from their previous enclosure to a new pen located at the rear of the property.

Wahyu said the enclosure gate had been left unlocked during the relocation process.

“The domestic helper forgot to lock the gate. The owner has two ostriches and has raised them since they were young,” he said.

He added that the birds had only recently been moved to the new enclosure, which is situated behind the house near a garden.

“They were only recently moved to the enclosure behind the house, near the garden. Based on the information we received, the helper forgot to lock the gate, allowing them to escape,” he said.

Residents and officers join recapture effort

Local residents, the owner’s household staff and community protection officers, known in Indonesia as linmas, joined efforts to recapture the birds after they escaped into the surrounding neighbourhood.

Authorities said the operation was completed without injuries to either people or the animals.

“Residents and the owner’s domestic helper managed to catch them. Thankfully, there were no injuries. Community protection officers also attended the scene, and by then the birds had already been returned to the enclosure and secured by the owner,” Wahyu said.

Officials did not report any property damage or traffic accidents linked to the incident.

Witnesses said the appearance of the birds drew crowds of curious residents, many of whom used their mobile phones to film the unusual scene. Some motorists reportedly slowed down or pulled over after spotting the large animals on the road.

Viral videos attract nationwide attention

The incident gained wider attention after videos of the ostriches circulated on social media platforms.

In the footage, the birds can be seen walking calmly along the roadside and through parts of the residential area while residents attempt to monitor their movements.

The videos prompted discussion online because ostriches are not commonly kept as pets in Indonesia and are rarely encountered outside zoos, safari parks or commercial breeding facilities.

Keeping ostriches is legal in Indonesia

Although the sight of ostriches wandering through a Bandung neighbourhood surprised many residents, Indonesian law permits the keeping and breeding of the species.

The ostrich (Struthio camelus) is native to Africa and is not classified as protected wildlife under Indonesia’s conservation legislation. As a result, private individuals may legally keep ostriches as pets or livestock, provided they comply with relevant regulations.

Under Law No. 5 of 1990 on the Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems, ostriches are not included on the list of protected species.

Individuals importing ostriches into Indonesia must comply with animal import requirements and undergo inspections by animal quarantine authorities to prevent the introduction of diseases.

Unlike protected native wildlife, ostriches kept for recreational or commercial breeding purposes do not require special breeding or circulation permits from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

The two ostriches involved in the Bandung incident have since been returned to their enclosure, bringing an end to a brief episode that transformed a quiet residential street into an unexpected wildlife spectacle.