Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed had a close call with an ostrich that sprinted across his path on a cycle track.
A companion of the Crown Prince of Dubai snapped the moment the bird – which can grow up to 2.5 metres in height – dashed in front of their group.
The picture appeared to be taken at Al Qudra cycle track, which runs through the Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve.
On occasion, cyclists spot giraffes and other exotic animals wandering freely in the fenceless reserve.
Ostriches are flightless, but they can sprint at more than 70 kilometres per hour.
They are the fastest birds in the world.
Sheikh Hamdan's animal photography
-
Animal photography is a passion of the Crown Prince, seen here photographing an elephant. Instagram / Faz3 -
Sheikh Hamdan has been horse riding since childhood and takes part in endurance racing on horseback. Instagram / Faz3 -
He owns a pet lion, named Moochi. Instagram / Faz3 -
He shared this selfie with a whale shark on Instagram. Instagram / Faz3 -
Being playful with an elephant, the largest land animal. Instagram / Faz3 -
One of the birds that nested on Sheikh Hamdan's car bonnet in August 2020. Instagram / Faz3 -
In April 2020, he took part in a turtle conservation project. Instagram / Faz3 -
With a pair of falcons. Instagram / Faz3 -
Snapping a selfie with a giraffe. Instagram / Faz3 -
And dutifully giving a giraffe selfie approval on a separate occasion. Instagram / Faz3 -
Sharing a cute moment with a camel. Instagram / Faz3 -
Striking photography with a falcon. Instagram / Faz3 -
The royal with a young foal. Instagram / Faz3 -
He is a keen photographer and regularly shares footage of animals he has photographed. Instagram / Faz3 -
'Two worlds, one city. #MyDubai,' he captioned this juxtaposed image. Instagram / Faz3 -
It is not just large exotic animals the royal loves, here he is with a cute domestic cat. Instagram / Faz3 -
Posing with a young white lion. Instagram / Faz3 -
He is clearly at one with his animals, as he comfortably gets up-close to big cats. Instagram / Faz3 -
'Stand tall,' he captioned this striking image of a family of giraffes in Dubai. Instagram / Faz3 -
A neck as tall as the Burj Khalifa. Instagram / Faz3 -
The royal cuddling a cute young tiger. Instagram / Faz3 -
Peeking out behind a young white lion. Instagram / Faz3 -
He photographed this ostrich in motion in Tanzania in 2015. Instagram / Faz3 -
With a pair of young lions. Instagram / Faz3
