Ostriches in Blesteni village attract many visitors
In the village of Blesteni, located in the Edineț district, the Beltei family farm has become a popular attraction for both locals and visitors. The unique draw for this rural village in northern Moldova is the presence of four impressive ostriches, which the family members care for with great dedication and attention.
The four birds arouse the curiosity of everyone who comes to the farm. Due to their impressive size and special behavior, the birds attract attention and offer a unique experience, especially for children, who have the opportunity to see them up close and learn more about the largest bird species in the world.
“The children started a small business for their children at first. They brought them ostriches. The ostriches have grown and other children already want to see the beauty of ostriches, because there are not many ostriches in these parts of our country. They have been with us for a year now. Families with children come, they are very happy. They have the opportunity to feed them. And I see their attitude towards the children. They are very happy”, said Lucia Beltei, on the “Zi de Zi” show on Radio Moldova.
“We feed them with a mixture of cereals. Also, zucchini, beetroot, they love vitamins”, added Lucia Beltei.
The animals have adapted to the climatic conditions of the Republic of Moldova, the owners said.
"They have adapted to our requirements. They are used to the cold in winter and the heat, because they come from Africa, and it is warm there. So they have adapted to everything", said Anatolie Beltei.
These birds require a larger space to run, and if they want to reproduce, their food ration must be adequate. The owners believe they have three males and one female: "They are small, but we assume that is the case; we do not know for sure yet."
Additionally, they mentioned that an ostrich can weigh between 170 and 180 kilograms and reach a height of 2.5 meters.
"They are very tall. They are one year old and already weigh 120 kilograms, but they need to reach 180 kilograms. Males are usually bigger," said Lucia Beltei.
"At one year and seven months, or one and a half years, if the weather outside is not favorable for them, they do not lay eggs until the weather normalizes," explained the owner.
Their children also want peacocks, pheasants, horses, and ponies, the owners stated in an interview with journalist Daniela Gherman.
"I wish for that a lot, and I believe that the dream will come true. Our children have invested quite a bit because a small one-month-old ostrich costs 200 euros. An ostrich eats one kilogram of food per day. There are expenses, but the children manage them; we contribute through our work and support. However, the satisfaction is immense, especially when the little ones come and you hear their cheerful laughter. It fills our hearts with joy and makes us feel younger as well," the owners noted.
