A new year, a new encounter with the fastest bird on land.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed found himself cycling alongside two ostriches on a bike ride on Friday, January 1, sharing a video of the encounter on social media.
"This morning, another close call," the Crown Prince of Dubai captioned the one-minute clip.
The royal last week shared a photograph of an ostrich crossing his path on a ride through Al Qudra cycle track, which runs through the Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve.
"#Closecall," he captioned the shot.
In the new video uploaded by Sheikh Hamdan, one of the Crown Prince's companions captures the moment an ostrich runs in front of his path.
The royal then cycles alongside a pair of birds on the track, as they dash through the sandy verge.
Ostriches, which are flightless, can reach speeds of around 70 kilometres per hour.
Giraffes and other exotic animals can occasionally be spied wandering freely in the fenceless reserve around Al Qudra.
Sheikh Hamdan is known for his affinity with all animals, from dogs to falcons, giraffes and baby deer. In August 2020, he cordoned off his Mercedes G-Wagen after two doves nested on the bonnet, while in April 2019, he went out with a group of UAE conservationists to assist trimming a giraffe's hooves.
Scroll through the gallery below to see more photos of the Crown Prince of Dubai with members of the animal kingdom:
