Aussie Animals
Flightless bird that âwonâ a war?
Emu
Year of the Great Emu War?
1932
Weapon soldiers used?
Lewis machine gun
Main crop emus ate?
Wheat
Approx. emus that invaded?
About 20,000
Emuâs main predator in the wild (pre-human intervention)?
Dingo
Month the Great Emu War started?
November
How many rounds of ammo were used?
10,000
Region of Australia most affected?
Western Australia
What nickname did the media give the âwarâ?
Emu War
Height of an adult emu?
Around 1.8 meters
How long did the âwarâ last?
Several weeks
Name of the commanding officer?
Major G.P.W. Meredith
How many farms were affected? |
20
What tactic did emus use to escape soldiers?
Birds split into small groups and outran soldiers
Average running speed of an emu (km/h)?
Around 50 km/h
Which governmental department sent the soldiers?
Department of Defence (Australia)
Number of machine guns deployed?
2
How did farmers eventually protect crops?
Fences, bounty programs, crop guards
How did the public react to the army losing?
Widely mocked by newspapers
Scientific name of the emu?
Dromaius novaehollandiae
Number of soldiers sent in the operation?
16
Quote from Major G.P.W. Meredith?
"It is difficult to devise a plan to kill birds which can outrun machine guns."
What alternative strategies were used besides guns?
Bounties and trenches
Why is the Great Emu War historically significant?
Shows how nature can outsmart humans; absurd but real historical event