When Australia Declared War On Birds And Lost
In 1932, Australia faced an unusual enemy that would embarrass its military. After World War I ended, the Australian government gave land to war veterans in Western Australia so they could farm wheat.
However, the Great Depression caused wheat prices to drop significantly, making it hard for farmers to earn money. Then thousands of emus migrated to these farming areas and started eating the crops. The farmers needed help, but they never expected the government to send in the army.
How The Conflict Started:
The emu population had grown large because the birds had few natural predators in the area. When breeding season ended in October 1932, approximately 20,000 emus moved inland from coastal regions toward farmland where water and food were plentiful.
These large flightless birds can grow up to six feet tall and weigh around 100 pounds. They destroyed fences that farmers built to keep out rabbits and ate significant amounts of wheat crops. Desperate farmers contacted Minister of Defence Sir George Pearce and requested military assistance to handle the emu problem.
Military Strategy Against Emus:
The government approved the operation and sent Major G.P.W. Meredith along with two soldiers armed with two Lewis machine guns and 10,000 rounds of ammunition. The military expected quick success against the birds. However, emus proved to be surprisingly difficult targets.
The birds could run at speeds up to 30 miles per hour and scattered quickly when gunfire started. The soldiers found that emus could survive multiple bullet wounds and continue running. After several days of hunting, the military had used thousands of rounds but killed fewer than 100 birds.
The Campaign's Embarrassing Results:
The operation continued for about a month with poor results. Newspapers began mocking the military effort, with one journalist writing that the emus had won every battle through guerrilla tactics. Major Meredith reported that the emus employed effective strategies by breaking into small groups, making them harder to target.
By early November, the military withdrew after killing approximately 1,000 emus while firing more than 9,000 rounds. Some reports suggest the actual number of birds killed was even lower. The government faced criticism for wasting resources during difficult economic times.
What Australia Learned From Fighting Flightless Birds:
The failed military campaign taught Australia that sometimes traditional warfare tactics do not work against nature. After the army withdrew, the government instead offered bounties to farmers for emu kills and provided ammunition.
This approach proved more effective than military intervention. The Great Emu War remains a reminder that humans cannot always control wildlife through force and that alternative solutions often work better than aggressive campaigns.
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