Rhea

The grey feathered rheas are flightless ratites native to the grasslands of South America. They resemble Australian emus, but are more closely related to tinamou (next to the ratites, the second classification of primitive birds). They reach a body height of about 1.40 metres and can run up to 60 km/h for short periods. They are efficient swimmers. In their natural habitat, they often form mixed herds with pampas deer, vicuñas and guanacos, sometimes even with livestock, such as sheep and cattle. The muffled mating call of the male (cock) is similar to that of a bittern. The cock occupies and secures a territory and gathers a harem of 2 to 12 hens around him. The hens lay 13 to 30 (maximum 80) eggs in a communal scrape nest built by the male, and then leaves the scene. The male broods and raises the chicks alone, sometimes assisted by subadult cocks. It is extremely aggressive towards intruders during this time. The incubation period lasts 35 to 40 days and the chicks stay with the father for about 6 months. Rheas are omnivorous, but prefer vegetable food such as seeds, roots and fruits, besides insects and small vertebrates. There has been a free-living rhea population in Germany for years. They belong to the so-called neozoa, or invasive species: animals that have established themselves in a new area due to human influence. In 2000, a group of rheas escaped from a free-range farm in Schleswig-Holstein. Since 2001, they have been breeding regularly in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in the untouched lowlands of the Wakenitz. The population has become established, but is assessed as potentially invasive and is subject to strict monitoring. As the species has been reproducing for several generations without anthropogenic support, it is considered a native species as defined by § 7 para. 2 no. 7 of the Federal Law on Nature Conservation (BNatSchG). In addition, it is a specially protected species as defined by § 7 para. 2 no. 13 of the Federal Law on Nature Conservation (BNatSchG), which is indeed subject to § 44 of the Federal Law on Nature Conservation (BNatSchG), but which may now be regulated (i.e. hunted) with a permit.