The Great Emu War of 1932 was an event that took place in Campion, Western Australia approximately 500km north of Albany. After World War I, many soldiers were given land in the region to farm, but they faced many challenges and in 1932, the district was plagued by large numbers of emus. By the early 1930s, the country faced economic difficulties during the Great Depression and many of these soldiers struggled to make their farms run at a profit. Adding to the challenges a massive number of emus — about 20,000 of them came to the area for food and water.

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These flightless birds were causing extensive damage to crops and the farmers sought help from the federal government. ​In response to the farmers call for help, the Australian military was called in to help manage the emu population. Armed with rifles, soldiers attempted to cull the birds, however, the emus proved to be very quick and it was difficult for the soldiers to target.

 

The Emu War lasted several weeks, from November to December 1932. The military managed to kill only about 1,000 emus, a small amount of the total population. As a result, the operation was seen as a failure and the military withdrew. The emus continued to thrive and the farmers had to find other solutions to protect their crops.

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The Great Emu War remains a fascinating chapter in Australian history, blending humor with serious lessons about the unpredictable nature of wildlife. It’s a reminder that sometimes, nature doesn’t respond to human plans and is a symbol of the challenges faced by farmers and a part of Australian history.