The seriemas in West Coast Park St. Peter-Ording have been bred. Because the parents left the chick for unknown reasons, the baby bird is now reared by hand. This was announced by the head of the zoo, which also includes alpacas, turtles, snakes and seals in addition to the birds.
The long-legged seriemas are often referred to as the "living fossil". They are considered the last relatives of the extinct "terror birds" (Phorusrhacidae) 18,000 years ago.
The seriemas are bad flyers. They are among the largest predominantly ground-living birds in South America. To stay overnight, they climb trees. To do so, they cling to the trunk with their strong claws. On the run, they can run at speeds up to 70 kilometers per hour, said Brand.
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In their homeland, hand-held seriemas are often used as "watchmen": when predators or strangers approach, the birds in front warn with loud shouts.
