StrangeSights: Hug an ostrich; a pancake house; and, conch shell blowing

DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…

• Ostriches are normally territorial and aggressive birds best approached with caution, but at a Belgian animal rescue farm, the hand-reared birds are so gentle they will cuddle with visitors. At the Passiehoeve animal rescue farm in Kalmthout, visitors can sit on a blanket in an enclosure where some of the ostriches will approach, sit, and rest their long necks on human shoulders. “This is the only place in the world where ostriches will really cuddle with people,” said Wendy Adriaens, 41, a former corporate executive who started the farm after saving a clutch of ostrich chicks from an ostrich meat farm. Her farm now has nine ostriches, a horse, a pony, a donkey, pigs, dogs, chickens, ducks and 14 goats. Most come from shelters or are brought by animal rescue services. Every year, authorities take away some 7,000 animals from owners because of neglect and Adriaens’ farm is part of a network where they are placed. Her animals are also used as therapy animals for people with autism, depression, anxiety or drug problems. Belgium and the neighbouring Netherlands have hundreds of “care farms” where judicial and medical authorities send people for short- or long-term stays. “Horses are also used as therapy animals, but our ostriches are more sensitive. They connect with visitors, they feel everything, and if you have negative thoughts, they step away,” Adriaens said. She added that ostriches – which can weigh up 175 kilos – will be comfortable around humans and even affectionate if treated with kindness. Individual cuddling sessions with the ostriches, which typically last an hour or until the birds step away, cost 65 euros ($71) at the farm. – GEERT DE CLERQ and YVES HERMAN, Kalmthout, Belgium/Reuters

• Marking National Pancake Day in the US – held on 28th February, breakfast food brand Eggo unveiled a literal “house of pancakes” in the Gatlinburg, Tennessee, late last month. The house, which comes complete with a stick of butter-shaped chimney and a roof that appears to be covered in maple syrup, has been made available free-of-charge to a few lucky renters with new bookings opening on a number of Mondays in March.  The house, which has pancake-themed decor throughout, comes complete with an array of Eggo pancakes in the freezer. Eggo is perhaps better known for its breakfast waffles (thanks, in part, perhaps, to Stranger Things) – something that has been picked up on by the brand. “Eggo and waffles are an iconic combination, so much so that fans might forget about our pancakes. That’s why we’re flipping our focus with this unexpected experience that celebrates Eggo pancakes as a breakfast go-to that’s equally good at making parents’ lives easier and making breakfast delicious,” said Joe Beauprez, senior director of marketing for frozen foods at Kellanova. “Plus, we know that planning a family vacation can be chaotic, so we’re helping parents check one more thing off their to-do list for spring break season with this deliciously fun house.”

• Forget flutes and fiddles, Key West’s annual Conch Shell Blowing Contest, or “Conch Honk”, as the locals call it, celebrates a different kind of musical heritage. Last Saturday, dozens of conch honkers of all ages came out to play. Contestants wielded conch shells of various sizes, coaxing out tunes, songs, and even a few birthday wishes. From Crocodile Rock to Happy Birthday and even a valiant attempt at the Star-Spangled Banner, “pucker power” and creativity were on full display. Judges weren’t just looking for volume but for the quality, duration, and sheer novelty of the sounds produced by these unconventional instruments. The men’s division saw a tie this year. Brian Cardis, a pediatric cardiologist from Georgia, impressed with his rendition of Crocodile Rock using two different shells. Sharing the spotlight was Peter Drake, a mental health counselor from Connecticut who’s been a conch enthusiast since his teens – a true conch-blowing veteran returning to the competition after 50 years. More than just a quirky competition, the contest, organised by the Old Island Restoration Foundation, is a tribute to the conch shell’s historic role in the Keys. For centuries, the conch served as a “conch horn” for sailors, fishermen, and islanders to communicate. The conch itself is deeply woven into the Keys’ identity. Locals proudly call themselves “conchs,” and Key West is unofficially known as the “Conch Republic”, a playful nod to the island’s independent spirit. – Reuters TV