Three teenagers may face a hefty fine if a court decides their festive firecrackers outside an eastern German farm scared the libido right out of an ostrich named Gustav.
Rico Gabel, a farmer in Lohsa, north-east of Dresden, is claiming â,¬4 900 in damages for the alleged antics between December 27 and 29 2005 by the three youths, aged 17 to 18.
The farmer claims that fireworks set off by the boys made the previously lustful Gustav both apathetic and depressed, and thus unable to perform for six months with his two female breeding partners, according to the lawsuit.
Before Gustav regained his sex drive in the second half of the year, the farmer estimates he had lost out on 14 ostrich offspring — worth â,¬350 apiece.
The suit is due to be heard next Monday in a regional court in nearby Bautzen, the court said on Monday. The teenagers were not identified by name. — Sapa-AP