Imported ostriches put governor on the defensive

JAKARTA (JP): The 75 ostriches that East Nusa Tenggara imported from Africa last month at a cost of Rp 80 million (US$34,000) each are becoming a controversial subject.

The arrival of the big birds, up to 2.4 meters tall and weighing 60 kilograms, has put East Nusa Tenggara governor Herman Musakabe on the defensive.

In a workshop on husbandry in the capital Kupang yesterday, a youth organization leader, Frans Kape, criticized the experimentation with the flightless birds.

"It seems that people no longer care about preserving their tradition inherited from colonial times to prioritize local potentials," Frans was quoted by Antara as saying.

Frans argued that "everyone knows" that the Timor and Sumba islands are suitable for breeding cows, buffalo and horses but not for poultry husbandry.

Musakabe said people should not make an issue out of the ostriches, now quarantined in Noelbaki before they are bred in Camplong forest, some 45 kilometers east of Kupang.

"It's no good having bad presumptions about the experiment," he said.

He said the ostrich breeding, if successful, will benefit farmers because they can sell their corn to feed the birds, whose eggs can fetch Rp 600,000 each.

The ostriches are intended to enrich the local fauna population. East Nusa Tenggara was chosen as the experimentation site because its climate and environment are similar to that of southern Africa, the birds' natural home. (pan)