Emu

Dromaius novaehollandiae

Easy (Polyandrous)

The **Emu** (*Dromaius novaehollandiae*) is a large Australian bird featured in the Grasslands Animal Pack DLC for *Planet Zoo*.

## Zoopedia Description

### General

**Population In Wild:** 630,000 - 725,000

The emu (or Dromaius novaehollandiae) is the world’s second largest species of flightless bird, only dwarfed by the common ostrich. It lives in the savannahs and woodlands of Australia. The emu has a long, bald neck which may have a blue tint, shaggy brown feathers that begin partway down the neck, and long grey legs with large three-toed feet. Emus have a grey beak, orange eyes and tufty feathers on the top of their head. Males and females look alike, although female emus are generally larger and heavier than males. Male emus measure 1.5m to 1.8m in height and 1.39m to 1.57m in length, and weigh 30kg to 55kg. Females stand 1.6m to 1.9m tall, are 1.5m to 1.64m long, and weigh 35kg to 60kg.

Emus are not endangered and are classed as a species of Least Concern. They are numerous throughout Australia despite being hunted for resources and by pest control measures in the past. However, certain regional populations have gone extinct or are at the risk of extinction due to human-caused habitat loss.

### Social

Emus are solitary but, outside of the breeding season, will loosely flock together in groups to forage and migrate. This may increase security as some individuals will keep watch while others feed.

### Reproduction

During the mating season, males and females engage in a courtship dance. Depending on the male’s performance, the female will either allow him to mate or become aggressive towards him. A male emu mates with one female, but hens may mate with multiple males.

It takes 48 to 56 days after mating until the hen lays her eggs. During this time, the male or males who earned the right to mate may mate with her multiple times, although only one of them will remain to assist incubating the eggs. Hens who mate with too many males run the risk of having no partner to aid them, so she may guard a particular male to prevent him leaving or mating with other hens. The male who stays with the female builds a nest out of twigs, leaves and grass on the ground, into which the hen will lay an initial clutch of 5 to 24 eggs. She may lay more eggs in three day increments. Female emus can store sperm from previous matings, so eggs laid later may have different fathers. Once the eggs are laid, her mate begins incubating them and will remain on the nest for the full duration of 47 to 50 days. He will not get up to drink, eat or pass waste and will solely survive off fat reserves. Male emus are extremely aggressive during incubation, and very fastidious in looking after the eggs, turning them regularly and gathering them together if they roll apart.

When the eggs hatch only the male cares for the chicks. He teaches them how to find food and protects them from predators and other emus, even their mother. They remain close to him for about 7 months, at which point they begin distancing themselves from him. Young emus are fully independent and sexually mature between 15 and 18 months old.

## Animal Care

 FEEDING STATIONS
 FOOD ENRICHMENT
Slow Feeder · Forage Box
Curio Ball · Herb Scent Marker · Mirror Mobile · Rubber Duck · Small Ball Colourful · Small Ball Pumpkin · Small Ball · Small Ice Ball · Sprinkler · Waterfall and Metal Frame

## Trivia

### Zoopedia Fun Facts

* Emus can reach a top speed of 48km/h.
* Emu males incubate the eggs and care for the chicks.
* The emu has two sets of eyelids: one set is visible and is used for blinking; the other set is transparent and used for protection from dirt.
* Emus are the only bird species with calf muscles.
* In the 1930s, the Australian government attempted to utilise their military to cull emus that were migrating through farmlands in an operation known as ‘The Great Emu War’. The Australian government officially lost this war.