The Great Emu War: Australia’s Failed Battle Against Flightless Birds

In 1932, Australia waged a bizarre and ultimately unsuccessful military campaign known as the Great Emu War. After World War I, returning soldiers were given land to farm in Western Australia. However, a massive influx of emus migrating inland for food and water destroyed crops and caused chaos. The government decided to take action, enlisting soldiers armed with machine guns to combat the birds.

The emus proved to be surprisingly resilient and elusive, often evading the soldiers' gunfire. Despite using 10,000 rounds of ammunition, the operation was a failure, with few emus killed and many escaping unscathed. The "war" ended in embarrassment for the military, and the emus continued to roam freely. This unusual episode remains a humorous and cautionary tale about the challenges of wildlife management.