Australia Started An Emu War And Lost

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In Australia, 1932, the government had to address the public concern over the number of Emus said to be running amok in the Campion district of Western Australia. While a number of the birds were killed, the Emu population persisted and continued to cause crop destruction.

Following World War I, large numbers of ex-soldiers took up farming in Western Australia, often in marginal areas. In 1929, these farmers were encouraged to increase their wheat crops, with the government promising—with their fingers crossed—in the form of subsidies. In October 1932, matters were becoming intense, with the farmers preparing to harvest the season's crop while simultaneously threatening to refuse to deliver the wheat.

Emu's began to migrate after their breed season had ended, as they always do, and with the cleared land and additional water supplies being made available for livestock by the West Australian farmers, the Emus found that the cultivated lands were good habitat. The Emus consumed and spoiled the crops, as well as leaving large gaps in fences where rabbits could enter and cause further problems.

The 'war' was conducted under the command of Major G.P.W. Meredith of the Seventh Heavy Battery of the Royal Australian Artillery, Meredith commanding soldiers Sergeant S. McMurray and Gunner J. O'Hallora, armed with two Lewis guns and 10,000 rounds of ammunition failed to reduce the number of Emus on two attempts. Then afterwards, exclusion barrier fencing became a popular means of keeping emu out of agricultural areas in addition barricaded away other vermin such as dingoes and rabbits.

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