Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson bitten by ostrich — yes, you read that right — during a family trip to a wildlife park in Texas, and the internet can’t get enough of it. The bizarre yet comical incident took place at what appeared to be a drive-through safari, possibly in or near Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas.
The moment was caught on video and later uploaded to Instagram by his wife, Carrie Johnson, with the caption: “Too funny not to share.” What followed was a mix of surprise, laughter, and that classic Boris-style chaos that continues to define his public persona long after he left office.
The clip shows Boris Johnson sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle with his young child as an ostrich approaches through the open window. As curious hands stretch out to engage with the bird, it suddenly jabs its beak at Johnson’s hand in a swift peck.
His reaction — a startled yelp of “Oh, cripe!” followed by an effort to drive away while muttering an expletive — instantly transformed the moment into comedy gold. The toddler’s innocent laughter in the background, mixed with the sheer absurdity of the situation, has since captured the attention of social media users around the world.
While the video was just a few seconds long, it reignited interest in Boris Johnson’s long list of offbeat moments that always seem to find their way into the public spotlight. From political fumbles to comedic stumbles, this ostrich encounter has joined the ranks of Boris’s most unforgettable gaffes — and it happened, quite fittingly, while he was surrounded by prehistoric fossils and towering birds in rural Texas.
Wild Texas Welcome: A Feisty Encounter in Glen Rose
The Johnson family’s trip to the Lone Star State appears to have included several stops around Granbury and Glen Rose, Texas. Carrie Johnson shared photos from Dinosaur Valley State Park, a place known for its dinosaur tracks, rugged beauty, and proximity to various wildlife experiences.
It’s also a stone’s throw away from safari-style parks where animals like giraffes, zebras, and ostriches roam freely, often sticking their heads into vehicles looking for snacks or attention.
But this feathered Texas native clearly wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries.
Ostriches are known for their size — standing over 7 feet tall and weighing up to 300 pounds — and while they’re not typically aggressive, they can become defensive or feisty when food is involved. That seems to be what happened in this instance.
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The video shows the large bird peering into the vehicle with its long neck, then pecking at Boris Johnson’s hand as he tried to interact with it. Though the bird didn’t cause serious injury, the unexpected jab clearly startled the former prime minister.
Boris Johnson was bitten by an ostrich as he drove through a safari park with his son.https://t.co/p80k96HQ67 pic.twitter.com/r5bRurlhgd
— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 8, 2025
This wasn’t just a case of an animal being protective — it may have been hangry. Wildlife experts often caution visitors at safari parks to keep food out of sight and avoid sudden movements. Even though these animals are used to human interaction, they still behave according to instinct, and a giant ostrich deciding to claim its space at a car window is not unheard of.
That said, not everyone who visits such parks walks away with a story this entertaining. The video quickly made its rounds on news sites and social media platforms, prompting viewers to laugh and cringe in equal measure.
Some fans jokingly suggested that the ostrich was making a political statement. Others just marveled at Boris Johnson’s consistent ability to get himself into the oddest situations imaginable.
From Parliament to Peppa Pig: Boris and the Art of the Bizarre
Boris Johnson’s political career may be filled with major decisions and serious leadership moments, but it is often his comic blunders and eccentric behavior that have stuck with the public. Whether intentionally or not, Johnson has turned awkward encounters into a sort of trademark. The ostrich pecking incident is just the latest entry in a long list of moments that have seen him go viral.
Who could forget the time he got stuck midair on a zipline during the 2012 London Olympics while waving Union Jack flags? Or that infamous 2021 CBI speech where he lost his notes, invoked Peppa Pig World, and mimicked a car engine in front of stunned business leaders? These aren’t just gaffes — they’re legendary episodes that blur the line between political leadership and slapstick humor.
Even in moments of formal state presence, Boris Johnson has found himself embroiled in misadventure. At a 2021 event commemorating fallen police officers, he was seen grappling with a collapsing umbrella — and losing. Earlier that year, during a press appearance, he compared his struggle to wear a glove to the O.J. Simpson trial, eliciting gasps and groans from the press.
And then there was the awkward moment when he asked a police officer whether it was difficult to control his K-9 unit’s “urge to hump people’s legs.” That kind of statement would cause most politicians’ careers to nosedive — for Boris, it just added another layer to his bumbling, unpredictable reputation.
This ongoing collection of incidents has made Boris Johnson one of the most meme-worthy political figures in recent history. While it hasn’t always worked in his favor, the pattern continues. The ostrich attack adds one more feather to his rather chaotic cap.
A Family Trip Turned Internet Sensation
While Boris Johnson’s Texas vacation may have been meant as a quiet family getaway, the viral nature of the ostrich encounter ensured that the trip would not go unnoticed. Several reports confirmed the Johnson family was in Granbury, Texas over the weekend. A local restaurant, Stumpy’s Lakeside Grill, even shared a photo of Johnson dining there.
On Monday, Carrie Johnson’s Instagram story showed the family exploring the natural wonders of Dinosaur Valley State Park, a destination known for its exposed dinosaur tracks and scenic trails along the Paluxy River. Despite the Jurassic vibes, it was the modern-day ostrich that stole the show.
For many observers, the video provided a moment of levity — a comedic distraction amid the usual stream of serious headlines. It also reminded people that no matter how far removed a former prime minister may be from the global stage, he remains unmistakably Boris. Whether caught mid-zipline or mid-peck, he seems to invite a kind of chaotic energy wherever he goes.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time a political figure has had a funny or awkward moment with animals. George W. Bush dodging a thrown shoe, Joe Biden’s interactions with his German Shepherds, and even Queen Elizabeth’s memorable appearance with Paddington Bear have all become part of a collective cultural memory. In Boris’s case, the wildlife doesn’t just join the scene — it takes a bite.
While the ostrich incident is unlikely to have any political implications, it does cement Johnson’s image as a man who, no matter the continent or the situation, finds himself tangled in scenes of high comedy. And though the peck might’ve smarted a bit in the moment, it’s clear from Carrie Johnson’s caption that even the former PM himself saw the humor in it.
The scene at Dinosaur Valley State Park — of an ostrich boldly asserting itself into a former world leader’s personal space — is now etched into the growing scrapbook of Boris Johnson’s eccentric adventures. For viewers, it was a snapshot of absurdity, family fun, and feathered chaos all rolled into one.
As for Boris? He may have left office in 2022, but his uncanny ability to attract viral misadventures shows no signs of slowing down. Whether he’s in London, the English countryside, or deep in the heart of Texas, the spectacle follows. And this time, it followed him all the way to an ostrich’s beak.