In 1932, Australia experienced a very unusual conflict known as the Great Emu War. This wasn’t a war between countries, but rather between humans and emus, which are large, flightless birds native to Australia. After World War I, many Australian and British veterans were given land by the government to start farming. However, they faced tough times because of poor farming conditions and the Great Depression, which caused wheat prices to drop.
Originally, emus were protected in Australia, but by 1922, they were considered pests. Around 20,000 emus were eating crops in Western Australia, causing big problems for the farmers, who were mostly ex-soldiers. These farmers asked the Australian military for help, requesting machine guns and ammunition to deal with the emus. Sir George Pearce, the Minister of Defence, agreed to help.
Major G.P.W. Meredith led two soldiers with machine guns and 10,000 rounds of ammunition, thinking it would be easy to get rid of the emus. However, rain delayed their plans until November 2. When they finally reached Campion, they found about 50 emus and started shooting. But the emus were fast and scattered into small groups, making it hard to hit them. Only a few were killed.
A couple of days later, they tried again with 1,000 emus, but the birds dodged the bullets, and only 10 were killed. One of the machine guns even jammed. The soldiers noticed that the emus seemed smart, with one acting as a lookout while the others fed. At the first sign of danger, the leader would signal the group to run away.
The soldiers then tried mounting a machine gun on a truck, but this plan also failed. The ride was too bumpy, and the emus were too quick, making it impossible to aim properly. The operation ended when an emu got caught in the truck’s steering wheel.
On November 8, after negative media coverage and discussions in the Australian House of Representatives, the soldiers stopped their efforts. They had used 2,500 rounds of ammunition but only managed to kill 200 emus. Major Meredith later joked that if they had soldiers as tough as the emus, they could defeat any army.
A second attempt was made on November 12, which was a bit more successful. They killed 986 emus using 9,860 rounds, averaging 10 shots per emu. Despite this, the emus were considered the winners of the Great Emu War. It wasn’t until 1934, when the government introduced bounties on emus, that the farmers found a more effective way to control the emu population.
Today, emus are protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of 1999, ensuring their safety and conservation.
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Imagine you are a journalist in 1932 covering the Great Emu War. Create a comic strip that illustrates the key events of the conflict. Use your creativity to depict the emus and soldiers, and add speech bubbles to show what they might be saying. This will help you visualize the story and understand the challenges faced by both sides.
Put yourself in the shoes of a farmer during the Great Emu War. Write a diary entry describing your experiences and feelings about the emus invading your crops and the military’s attempts to control them. This activity will help you empathize with the farmers and understand their perspective.
Create a poster that could have been used to recruit soldiers for the Great Emu War. Think about the language and images that would persuade people to join the effort. This will help you explore the historical context and the government’s approach to solving the problem.
Organize a classroom debate on whether the Great Emu War was a success or a failure. Divide into two groups, with one arguing that the military’s efforts were justified and the other arguing that the emus were the true victors. This will enhance your critical thinking and public speaking skills.
Investigate how emus are protected today under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of 1999. Present your findings to the class, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts and how they differ from the past. This will deepen your understanding of environmental protection and biodiversity.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
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**The Great Emu War**
In Australia in 1932, a peculiar conflict arose between humans and emus. Following World War I, Australian and British veterans were allocated plots of land by the government to become farmers. These farmers faced challenges in growing their crops due to difficult conditions, and the Great Depression had caused wheat prices to decline.
In 1922, emus, which are indigenous flightless birds, were initially a protected species. However, they were later classified as vermin when around 20,000 of them consumed crops across Western Australia. The ex-soldiers, now farmers, sought assistance from the Australian military, requesting machine guns and ammunition from the Minister of Defence, Sir George Pearce.
Major G.P.W. Meredith of the 7th Heavy Battery of the Royal Australian Artillery led two soldiers armed with machine guns and 10,000 rounds of ammunition. They believed it would be straightforward to eliminate the large number of emus at close range. However, the operation was postponed to November 2 due to heavy rainfall.
Upon reaching the district of Campion, they spotted approximately 50 emus and opened fire. However, the emus’ speed and ability to scatter into small groups allowed them to evade the gunfire, resulting in only a few being killed. Two days later, they encountered 1,000 emus and attempted to ambush them, but again, the emus managed to dodge the fire, with only 10 being killed, and one of the machine guns jammed.
One soldier remarked on the emus’ intelligence, noting that each group had a leader who kept watch while the others fed. At the first sign of danger, the leader would signal, prompting the group to flee, while remaining behind until the others were safe.
The next strategy involved mounting one of the machine guns on a truck, but this also failed due to the bumpy ride and the emus’ speed, which made accurate shooting impossible. The operation concluded when a lone emu got caught in the steering wheel.
On November 8, following negative media coverage and discussions in the Australian House of Representatives regarding the unsuccessful attempts to cull the emus, the group withdrew. They had used 2,500 rounds of ammunition and killed just 200 emus. Major G.P.W. Meredith later reflected that if they had a military division with the same resilience as the emus, it could withstand any army.
A second attempt was made on November 12 after more emu attacks on crops. This time, it was more successful, resulting in 986 kills using 9,860 rounds, averaging 10 rounds per confirmed kill. Ultimately, the emus emerged victorious in the Great Emu War. It wasn’t until the government introduced bounties on emus in 1934 that effective culling occurred.
Today, emus are protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of 1999.
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Emu – A large, flightless bird native to Australia, known for its long legs and ability to run fast. – During the Great Emu War in Australia, farmers struggled to protect their crops from large groups of emus.
War – A state of armed conflict between different countries or different groups within a country. – The Great Emu War was an unusual conflict where the Australian military was called in to deal with emus invading farmland.
Australia – A country and continent surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans, known for its unique wildlife and landscapes. – Australia is home to diverse ecosystems, including deserts, rainforests, and coral reefs.
Farmers – People who own or manage farms, growing crops and raising animals for food and other products. – Farmers in Australia faced challenges when emus began eating their crops during the Great Emu War.
Crops – Plants grown in large quantities for food, livestock feed, or other uses. – The emus caused significant damage to the farmers’ crops, leading to economic losses.
Military – The armed forces of a country, responsible for defending it against external threats and maintaining internal order. – The Australian military was deployed to help control the emu population during the Great Emu War.
Conservation – The protection and preservation of natural resources and the environment. – Conservation efforts are important to maintain biodiversity and protect endangered species.
Population – The number of people or animals living in a particular area. – The emu population in Australia grew rapidly, leading to conflicts with farmers.
Environment – The natural world, including the land, water, air, plants, and animals. – Protecting the environment is crucial for ensuring a healthy planet for future generations.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Learning about history helps us understand how past events have shaped the world today.
