In 1932, Australia’s Western Australian government declared war on emus – also known as Emu War. The birds, which are large flightless birds native to Australia, had been destroying crops in the Campion district, and the government was desperate to find a way to control their numbers.
The Australian military was called in to help, and two soldiers armed with Lewis guns were sent to the area. The soldiers opened fire on the emus, but the birds were surprisingly difficult to kill. They were fast, they could withstand multiple bullets, and they were able to regroup quickly after being scattered.
After a few weeks of fighting, the soldiers had only killed a few hundred emus. The government had spent a lot of money on the operation, and it was clear that the war was not going well. The soldiers were recalled, and the emus were left to roam free.
The Emu War is often seen as a humorous episode in Australian history, but it is also a reminder of the challenges of managing wildlife populations. The emus were simply too large and too fast for the soldiers to effectively control. The war also highlighted the limitations of using military force to solve problems.
The History of the Emu War
The Emu War began in November 1932, when farmers in the Campion district of Western Australia reported that emus were destroying their crops. The emus were migrating from their breeding grounds in the south, and they were attracted to the Campion district because of the abundance of food.
The farmers appealed to the government for help, and the government responded by sending two soldiers armed with Lewis guns to the area. The soldiers were instructed to shoot the emus, and they began their operation on November 2nd.
The soldiers were initially successful, and they killed a number of emus. However, the emus were quick to learn, and they soon became more difficult to kill. They would scatter when the soldiers opened fire, and they would regroup at a safe distance.
The soldiers continued to fight the emus for several weeks, but they were unable to make a significant dent in the emu population. By December 10th, the soldiers had been recalled, and the Emu War was over.
The Aftermath of the Emu War
The Emu War was a costly failure for the Australian government. The operation had cost over $1,000, and the soldiers had only killed about 986 emus. The war also damaged the government’s reputation, and it led to calls for a more humane way to manage wildlife populations.
The Emu War is often seen as a humorous episode in Australian history, but it is also a reminder of the challenges of managing wildlife populations. The emus were simply too large and too fast for the soldiers to effectively control. The war also highlighted the limitations of using military force to solve problems.
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