They may not be native to the island, like the Kri-kri, but for many years now ostriches have found a home on Crete, thanks to an enterprising young man and his wife.

Iraklis Lasithiotakis and his wife, Eleni, are the proprietors of the unique Ostrich Zoo Park, a sprawling six-stremmata verdant oasis located near Episkopi, where currently 15 ostriches, the world's largest birds, roam free, without any chance of them flying away since they are flightless.

It all began many years ago, when Iraklis owned a kiosk in Iraklion. "Cooped up in the kiosk, you only drink coffee or read newspapers all day," he joked. "The idea was conceived when I read a newspaper article about ostriches."

Iraklis and Eleni began travelling to places where ostriches are raised, like Southern Europe, and read many foreign books on raising and stock-farming ostriches.

"In 1998 we brought six ostriches from England, and little by little we created a suitable infrastructure to breed and raise these birds. We struggled, without any help from the government. At one time, there were many ostrich breeders in Greece but now there are only ten in certain regions of Makedonia, Corinth, and Rhodes. None on Crete, except us. We help each other by exchanging any information."

In the beginning, Iraklis designed his land only for breeding and stock-farming ostriches, and in the course of some years a park developed, which included other animals, like dwarf goats, a pony and rabbits, all coexisting peacefully. “A lot of schools visit our park, where apart from viewing the ostriches, the children plant trees and get involved in bread making," he said.  "Also, with a projector the kids have the chance to see the ostrich reproduction process which they find extremely interesting.  For example, it is the only bird that has an umbilical cord so that the foetus can feed before being born."

Iraklis explained that the ostrich is generally a gentle jungle bird that familiarizes easily with its environment but still keeps some of its wild instinct. Though they cannot fly, ostriches are strong runners and can sprint up to 70 kilometres an hour.

"The meat, he said, “is rich in vitamins and iron and when it is cooked it has a beef flavour and is very soft. They are fed special cereals in order for the meat and the eggs to maintain an excellent quality."  

Regarding the much talked about ostrich egg omelettes, he reports that "one ostrich egg equals twenty hen eggs and can make as many as twelve omelettes. The flavour is much lighter than a hen egg and it is recommended for diets."

The ostrich lives seventy to eighty years and the period of reproduction begins from March when the atmosphere warms up and lasts until September.

"They reproduce up until thirty years of age, starting at the age of two," Iraklis explained. "But what is really interesting is that the ostrich during the seven months of reproduction every year lays roughly 60 to 80 eggs, though the mortality rate of the newborn is very high."

In addition to being able to interact with the flightless birds, and the other animals, visitors to the park can enjoy home made food in the park's family taverna basking in the unique view.

"Besides lamb made in the wood burning stone oven, rabbit stew and other house specialties, there is always the tasty ostrich meat which, like all game, first is marinated and then cooked very slowly," he said.

Iraklis and Eleni, who have two children, Manos, 6, and Theodora, 4, plan to add other exotic animals like zebras, to make visiting the park even more exciting.

The Ostrich Zoo Park is open daily from 10 a.m. until late in the evening, and on weekends all year.