A good idea is only a good idea if you do something about it.
With that mantra firmly in mind it was only fitting for EMU to secure some mascots. It had to be emus, nothing else would meet the brief. Considering the daily care requirements of such fine birds we opted to leave the hard work to the experts. Pippa at Matlock Farm Park was unphased by our unusual request and quickly arranged a bespoke sponsorship package for us including photos and information pack, which can be seen below.
We welcome Beatrice and Bernard to the EMU family (first week free), and we hope that many of the EMU members and their families will get a change to visit them over the coming months.
- Scientific Name
- Dromaius Novaehollandiae
- Life Span
- 20 years
- Weight
- Male up to 50kg, Female up to 55kg
- Height
- 1.75m
- Names
- Beatrice and Bernard
Emus are the second largest living bird in the world and are related to Ostriches. Similar to Ostriches, their necks and legs are long, however their wings are tiny which makes them a flightless bird. They are endemic to Australia and can reach speeds of up to 30mph, which is only marginally faster than Lee from LUnis.
Beatrice and Bernard have been at Matlock Farm Park since they were chicks and are now 8 years old. Although they are very similar, you can tell them apart by their colouring. Bernard has a much bluer neck whilst Beatrice has more feathers on hers. Bernard is also more inquisitive and loves a neck scratch. In fact he even has a tickle spot on his head, where if you find it it will send him to sleep. As part of an Emus communication, they have a pouch in their throat which is part of their windpipe. When this is inflated, they can make a deep booming almost grunting noise. These calls are usually made during courtship and breading season. They can also be heard up to 1 mile away. During the breeding season the male (Bernard) does the incubation; during this process he hardly eats or drinks and loses a significant amount of weight. The eggs hatch after around eight weeks and the young are nurtured by their fathers. The chicks will reach full size after around 6 months but can remain with their parents until the next breeding season.
One last fun fact to leave you with... have you ever heard of the Great Emu War? This was a nuisance wildlife management military operation undertaken in Australia in 1932 to address public concerns over the number of Emus. The Royal Australian Artillery were called in to aid this operation - leading the media to adopt the name "Emu War" when referring to the incident. Although their numbers were reduced, the Emu population persisted and continued to cause crop destruction. The Emus won the war!
Thanks to the great team at Matlock Farm Park for working with us to put this sponsorship arrangement in place. Why not visit the EMU emus at their home?
