An ostrich that had escaped from its owner in Gifu Prefecture at the end of last year was found dead Sunday with the branch of a tree protruding from in its neck, the Asahi Shimbun reported Monday.
The ostrich was about 2 meters tall, and nearby residents feared accidents after reports of its disappearance. Its owner is a male ceramic artist in his 30s who keeps more ostriches in a fenced-in enclosure, according to media reports.
Part of the fence was found broken Thursday after the ostrich apparently got out, the reports said.
But on Sunday, the bird was found dead in nearby woods, bleeding from the neck with the branch protruding, according to the Asahi. It apparently ran into trees and accidentally got its neck punctured by the branch.
Residents in the area wondered why the man is allowed to keep such birds on his home compound.