The Emu War
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (339743)
Rockingham, Australia
November 17, 2024 6:24pm CST
We recently had dinner on board a very slow, vintage train. We drove an hour to get to Dwellingup where the train is situated and stayed the night in the motel. The photo you see was above the bed. These stylised emus are available on postcards, calendars, coffee mugs and all sorts of touristy items.
An interesting backstory: Following World War I, many returning veterans were given marginal farming land in Western Australia. However, migrating emus were decimating crops and pasture. In 1932, Royal Australian Artillery soldiers were brought in with Lewis guns to destroy the birds. The ‘Emu War’ was won hands down by the emus which continue to plague pastoralists today.
19 people like this
17 responses
@marguicha (222895)
• Chile
18 Nov
I have eaten ostrich meat (I did not like it though, but many people think that it is a delicacy). Couldn´t those farmers eat part of the emus? I´m all for turning badgers into meat here (foreign badgers are decimating our native forests).
3 people like this
@marguicha (222895)
• Chile
14h
@JudyEv Some animals get out of control in nature. Here beaver were brought years ago for profit but it did not work and they turned them loose. Now they are a menace to the native forest and native wildlife
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (178225)
• United States
19h
Are emus an invasive species? Have a good week.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (339743)
• Rockingham, Australia
2h
They are native to Australia so not an invasive species.
@allknowing (136187)
• India
3h
Poor Emus. They could have been sheltered elsewhere.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339743)
• Rockingham, Australia
2h
Tourists like the various bits and pieces with emus on them.
@JudyEv (339743)
• Rockingham, Australia
2h
I guess humans don't mind animals having rights as long as they don't interfere with human rights. 
@RasmaSandra (79783)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6h
Well, I am on the side of the emus, They are darling,
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339743)
• Rockingham, Australia
2h
Fair enough but they wiped out half the settlers out that way.
@JudyEv (339743)
• Rockingham, Australia
2h
Good question and I'm not really sure. Some of the more marginal lands might have switched to sheep but emus would compete for food and water there too. I think the 'war' was an exceptional circumstance with drought forcing the emus further and further south. Fences are better nowadays too. Emus are like the rabbits. They'll never get wiped out.
@JudyEv (339743)
• Rockingham, Australia
2h
I was surprised to see one in Ireland in a private zoo affair.
@JudyEv (339743)
• Rockingham, Australia
2h
The farmers were trying to make a living so they were anxious to get rid of the emus.
@jobelbojel (35545)
• Philippines
14h
These are cuties, I don't think they can destroy the crops.
Edit: thet are too cute to destroy the crops
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339743)
• Rockingham, Australia
2h
It would be great if they were too cute to destroy crops. Unfortunately they destroy a lot of crops. They have big feet as well as large appetites.
