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Uluru Emu Enclosure

Welcome to our Emu Enclosure

If you ever find yourself in Erldunda, don’t miss an opportunity to come by our onsite emu enclosure and say hello to these tall, majestic birds.

 

DID YOU KNOW?

The emu belongs to a group of flightless birds called ratites. Next to ostriches, they are the second largest living bird in the world and the tallest bird found in Australia. Adult emus can reach up to two metres in height and weigh up to 45kg!

Emus sexually mature at around two years of age. During courting and breeding season, the normally quiet female emus will create drumming and booming noises. They will lay a clutch of 6-11 eggs and the stay-at-home dad emus will take care of the eggs for the 60-day incubation period.

After laying her eggs, the momma emu may search for another mate, with which she will lay another clutch of eggs. Female emus can lay multiple clutches of eggs with different male emus throughout the course of a single breeding season.

Emus feed primarily on grass, fruits, flowers, and insects, and will occasionally ingest stones to help with digestion.

 

Appearance

Emu feathers have a loose and simple design. Unlike most birds, emus have double-shafted feathers, giving them a hair-like appearance. An emu’s tail feathers are stiff and are used to scare off predators.

Most emus are brown in colour, but its intensity can depend on the behaviour of surrounding birds, season of the year, and changes in the environment.

 

Flightless, Running Birds

Despite their feathers, emus cannot fly because of the size of their wings. Moreover, the open structure of the feathers makes them incapable of creating lift, serving the sole purpose of insulating and protecting against outside elements.

What they lack in flight, they make up for their strong legs. Emus can travel long distances at a fast pace and sprint at 48-km per hour. Their legs enable them to jump 2.1 metres off the ground, accompanied by impressive agility and excellent eyesight. Another fun fact: emus are the only birds with calf muscles.

To see these amazing birds up close, feel free to visit our onsite emu enclosure.