CHON BURI – An ostrich was seen running free on the Pattaya–Rayong highway on Tuesday, covering 10 kilometres before it was safely recaptured and returned to the cafe where it is a star attraction.
The Facebook page Zoom Rayong posted a video of the befeathered road user about 10am, showing the ostrich running along Highway 36 near Bira Circuit, a motor racing track in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri.
The bird was sighted between kilometre markers 22 and 33, legs pounding nonstop as it headed towards Rayong alongside moving vehicles. Witnesses said motorists slowed down to get a better look and some honked their horns, trying steer the ostrich to the roadside.
It was later learned the ostrich was five months old and belonged to the owner of a roadside cafe, “Cat Meow 4289,” located opposite the racing track.
The café’s 43‑year‑old owner, Issara Boriboon, said the flightless bird wandered off on Tuesday morning while he was away from the premises. When he returned, he was told the it had suddenly run off after a departing cement mixer truck that had delivered a load of concrete to a building site behind the cafe.
Mr Issara said he jumped on his moorbike and began an immediate search for the missing bird. Unable to find it, he was told someone had already removed the ostrich from the road.
The bird had been captured by local residents at Khanam Rai Intersection in Rayong province, approximately 10 kilometres from its cafe-home.
The owner picked it up and took it back to the cafe. He thanked the kind‑hearted people who helped keep it safe. Initial checks found the bird to be none the worse for its brief burst of highway freedom. It had attracted a lot of attention, but caused no traffic incidents.
The owner said he normally let the ostrich walk freely around the cafe. It was friendly and obedient and had never before run out onto the road.
