It is found in desert areas only after heavy rains have caused growth of herbs and grasses and heavy fruiting of shrubs. The emu also lives close to Australia's big cities, but is no longer found where native vegetation has been cleared to provide agricultural land. Positive A wide range of products are manufactured from the emu, especially since the farming of emus began in Australia 70 years ago. It is bred for its meat, as well as the skin for leather products. Young emus consume large quantities of caterpillars and grasshoppers.
Adults eat masses of burrs which entangle sheep wool.
Instead, a 1000 km long fence has been built, and successfully separates the emus from these cereal growing areas of the southwest. The emu lives 5-10 years, and longer in captivity. When eggs are fresh, they are dark green, but become almost black with time. References del Hoyo, J., Elliot, A and Sargatal, J. Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, 1992.