Boris Johnson, the former British prime minister, was cruising slowly through what appeared to be a wildlife park when, without warning, the ostrich stuck its head through the open driver’s side window to give Mr. Johnson a feisty peck.
“Ow!” Mr. Johnson can be heard shouting, as his toddler giggles with amusement.
The incident was shared on Sunday in a video posted to Instagram by Mr. Johnson’s wife, Carrie Johnson, accompanied by the caption, “Too funny not to share 😂.
In the clip, after Mr. Johnson yelps, he seems to express some profanities (though they are somewhat inaudible). He then grabs the steering wheel and drives away. The toddler hanging from Mr. Johnson’s arm keeps giggling.
It was not immediately clear on Monday when or where exactly the video had been taken, though social media posts by Ms. Johnson and local sightings show the family on vacation in Texas.
Other videos posted to Ms. Johnson’s account that appear to be from the same location show the family looking at deer and an aoudad, a goat-like animal. Another recent post from Ms. Johnson showed the family at Dinosaur Valley State Park, near Glen Rose, Texas.
Mr. Johnson was in Texas less than two years ago to lobby for Republican support for Ukraine.
It is not the first time Mr. Johnson, who served as prime minister from 2019 until 2022, has been at the center of slapstick public mishaps that align with his colorful and oftentimes chaotic tenure as Britain’s leader.
In February 2021, Mr. Johnson struggled to put a latex glove on his hand at a vaccination center in Wales. It’s “like O.J. Simpson,” Mr. Johnson quipped, referring to the 1995 murder trial in which a glove, which was a key piece of evidence, did not fit Mr. Simpson.
In July of that year, Mr. Johnson struggled to control his umbrella at a police memorial unveiling in central England.
Representatives for Mr. Johnson’s family could not immediately be reached on Monday for comment regarding the incident. Several wildlife parks in the area also did not immediately respond to requests for information about whether the Johnson family had visited them.
Stumpy’s Lakeside Grill, a restaurant in Granbury, Texas, posted a photo of Mr. Johnson to social media on Saturday, noting that he had dined there.
“We are so honored to have him as our guest!!” the restaurant said.