The Great Emu War of 1932

Did you know Australia literally declared war on a bird… and LOST?! Picture this: Western

Australia, 1932. Farmers aren’t battling pests or drought… but about 20,000

emus tearing through wheat fields like it’s an all-you-can-eat buffet. These weren’t normal

birds—they were fast, stubborn, and basically bullet-proof with attitude.

The farmers complained so much the government said, “Enough—send in the military.”

Enter Major G.P.W. Meredith—assigned to defeat birds with walnut-sized brains and Olympic-level

legs. The plan was simple: round them up and mow them down. Reality?

A complete disaster. The soldiers couldn’t hit anything. The emus zig-zagged like professional