The Great Emu War | Smartest Year Ever (Jan 17, 2025)
About this episode
In 1932, Australia declared war—on emus. Yes, you read that right. When 20,000 of these giant, flightless birds invaded Western Australia's farmland, the government sent machine guns to solve the problem. What followed was a hilariously chaotic and ultimately unsuccessful military campaign. From emus dodging bullets like feathered tanks to soldiers literally losing a war to wildlife, the Great Emu War is one of the most bizarre stories in history.
Why did this happen? How did the emus outsmart humans? And what lessons can we take from this epic feathered fiasco? Gordy dives into the wild tale of the Great Emu War, blending history with humor to kick off your weekend with a laugh.
Sources:
Johnson, L. (2014). The Great Emu War of 1932. Australian History Journal.
Williams, D. (1996). Emu Ecology and Management. Journal of Australian Wildlife Studies.
Museum of Western Australia. (n.d.). The Great Emu War: A Tactical Blunder. Retrieved from museumwa.org.au.
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