page_title: Rhea (bird)
section_title: Distribution and habitat
hierarchical_section_title: Rhea (bird) / Distribution and habitat
caption_attribution_description: English: A rhea (nandu) running at the Parque Luro, Argentina
context_page_description: The rheas are large ratites in the order Rheiformes, native to South America, distantly related to the ostrich and emu. Most taxonomic authorities recognize two extant species: the greater or American rhea and the lesser or Darwin's rhea. The IUCN lists the puna rhea as a separate species. The IUCN currently rates the greater and puna rheas as near-threatened in their native ranges, while Darwin's rhea is of least concern. In addition, a feral population of the greater rhea in Germany appears to be growing.
context_section_description: Rheas are from South America only and are limited within the continent to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. They are grassland birds and both species prefer open land. The greater rheas live in open grasslands, pampas, and chaco woodlands. They prefer to breed near water and prefer lowlands, seldom going above 1,500 metres (4,900 ft). On the other hand, the lesser rhea will inhabit most shrubland, grassland, even desert salt puna up to 4,500 metres (14,800 ft).
  A small population of rheas has emerged in northeastern Germany, after several couples escaped from an exotic meat farm near Lübeck in the late 1990s.  Contrary to expectations, the large birds have adapted well to the conditions in the German countryside.  Currently there is a population of well over 100 birds in an area of 150 square kilometres (58 sq mi) between the river Wakenitz and the A20 motorway, slowly expanding eastwards.  A monitoring system has been in place since 2008. The population is steadily growing. After the relatively long and cold winter 2017/2018 the number of rheas dropped slightly to 205 in March 2018. However, in autumn 2018 their number greatly increased to about 566. Therefore, local farmers are claiming increasing damages on their fields and some biologists claim the growing risk of rheas becoming a threat for local wildlife. Still protected by German natural conservation law there is a local discussion how to handle the situation. Occasional farmers were allowed to hunt down male rheas in small numbers as part of a compromise. Research on these bodies will hopefully encourage further knowledge about the influence of the German rhea population on their new environment.
caption: A rhea at the Parque Luro, Argentina
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