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Bizarre Court Case in Germany

Justice Sought for Gustav the Impotent Ostrich

The German owner of a depressed ostrich called Gustav is suing three teenagers for thousands of euros after they scared the bird with fire crackers. Upset by the bangs, the stud became so apathetic that he lost interest in mating. He will have his day in court next week.

A German ostrich called Gustav became so depressed after teenagers set off fire crackers near him that he became impotent for six months. His owner is suing the youths for thousands of euros in compensation in an unprecedented case being heard by a court in eastern Germany next week.

Ostrich farmer Rico Zabel wants €4,900 -- €350 for each of an estimated 14 chicks he says Gustav would have produced had he not been too upset to mate.

Zabel claims Gustav became "apathetic and depressive" after the incident and had no inclination to mate with either of his two female ostriches, said Heiko Philippi, spokesman for the district court in the eastern town of Bautzen where the case will be heard on March 12.

"It's an unprecedented case and has caused an incredible amount of media attention," said Philippi. "The judge will try to arrange a settlement but if neither side budges, an independent consultant will be brought in to assess whether the bird could really have had the stated number of chicks."

The three teenagers aged 17 and 18 have already been sentenced to hours of community service after they admitted letting off the firecrackers and throwing sticks at the bird just before New Year's Eve in 2005.

Zabel could not be reached for comment. Gustav seems to have come to terms with the trauma and cheered up. "Gustav wasn't physically injured and six months later was able to perform his duties again," said Philippi.

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