When Farmers Battled Emus: The Bizarre Great Emu War of 1932

In late 1932, farmers across Western Australia faced a growing crisis: flocks of emus were uprooting crops and causing havoc. The government sent soldiers with machine guns to stop them. Yet the emus won. This odd event is now called the Great Emu War.

Why Emus Invaded Farms

After World War I, many Australian soldiers received land near Perth. They planted wheat to earn a living. But in 1932, a severe drought forced emus from inland to seek water and food near farms. Thousands of these large birds moved into farmland in the Campion district.

Emus stand nearly six feet tall. They run fast, up to 30 miles per hour. Farmers watched in dismay as emus trampled seedlings and ate grains. Crops worth precious income were ruined overnight. According to the Australian War Memorial, farmers wrote to their local MP pleading for help.

Government Intervenes with Soldiers

In November 1932, the Minister of Defense agreed to send military help. Major G.P.W. Meredith led a small team of soldiers armed with two Lewis machine guns and 10,000 rounds of ammunition. They set up camp near Campion and waited for emus to arrive.

On November 2, the first attempt began. Meredith and his men spotted a flock of about fifty emus near a local dam. They opened fire, but the birds scattered. The machine guns jammed after only a few rounds. The soldiers withdrew, disappointed. Local papers like the Smithsonian Magazine noted that the emus proved elusive and survived the attack.

Emu Tactics and Soldier Frustration

Emus move in small groups. They split up and ran at high speed. Soldiers had trouble aiming as birds dashed in and out of scrub. One front-page article from The West Australian newspaper reported that Meredith described the birds as “difficult to hit.”

On another day, soldiers tried firing from a truck. The emus scattered into smaller groups, making it even harder to target them. In one engagement, Meredith claimed they killed about 50 birds, but soldiers found carcasses scattered and body counts unreliable.

After weeks of effort, the military withdrew in December 1932. The final tally: fewer than 1,000 emus killed, with thousands more continuing to destroy crops. Farmers were frustrated, and the government faced embarrassment. The “war” lasted only a month but became a national joke.

Aftermath and Lessons

Although the military campaign failed, the government provided farmers with more effective solutions. They introduced bounty systems, paying people to kill emus. Farmers also improved fencing and used traps. Over time, these methods reduced emu damage.

The Great Emu War showed how uncontrolled wildlife can threaten agriculture. It highlighted that weapons designed for humans often don’t work on fast-moving birds. Today, emus remain protected in Australia, but conflicts still happen. The government monitors bird movements and helps farmers with non-lethal methods.

Historians note that the Emu War has become folklore. It teaches us about human-animal conflict and the limits of military force. A BBC article highlighted how this event shaped discussions on wildlife management and farming.

Remembering a Bird Victory

The Great Emu War ended in a clear defeat for humans. Emus roamed free, their population adapting to farmland. The event is often cited in lists of odd military actions, such as in the Guinness World Records as one of the strangest.

Today, museums and history buffs celebrate this peculiar chapter. A plaque in Campion marks where Major Meredith led his troops. Visitors can learn how emus’ speed and numbers outmatched machine guns. The lesson: respect nature’s power and adapt wisely.