Klein Karoo School Projects

History of Ostriches
Archeological research has shown that ostriches existed as early as seven million years ago, while the ostrich feather trade dates back thousands of years. Arabians referred to the ostrich as the camel bird, while scientists have another name for it – Struthio camelus.

The ostrich has been known to man for thousands of years – from the time of the civilisations of Babylon, Egypt and Assyria. Early travellers made the first reference to ostriches in South Africa around 1775. According to them, many farmers in the Cape owned tame ostriches which roamed about freely.

Commercial ostrich "farming" started in South Africa around 1826. Since then, it has become firmly established in the fertile valley between the Outeniqua and Swartberg mountain ranges in the Southern Cape. This valley with its rich soil and relatively low average rainfall – 225 mm per year – is geographically known as the Klein Karoo (meaning "little" Karoo). From the mountains towering 1 000 meters above the valley, fast flowing streams bring water to the fertile planes below. Here lies Oudtshoorn, the jewel in the crown of the Klein Karoo and Ostrich Capital of the world home to a large percentage of the world’s ostrich population.

In the beginning of the 20th century, the plumes of the ostrich meant great wealth. Here at the beginning of a new century, the high quality ostrich skins is a sought-after commodity. Ostrich leather remains one of the few exotic leather types available to man. Ostrich meat is becoming increasingly popular with health conscious consumers who do not want to sacrifice taste and quality in the pursuit of a healthier lifestyle.