Emus

Habitat
Open forests and grasslands in Australia

Age
25-30 years

Weight
30-55 kg

Height
 150-190 cm

Gestation period
Incubates eggs for 50-56 days

Number of offspring
5-15 eggs

Conservation status
Not threatened

Did you know…

• In emus, females are larger than males.
• Male emus usually live with a harem of multiple females.
• The ostrich family, to which the emu belongs, consists of four species: emu, ostrich, rhea, and cassowary.
• This family of birds dates back to the time of dinosaurs!
• When it comes to incubating the eggs, it is actually the male who takes charge. He is the one who sits on the nest.
• During this time, he remains inactive for eight weeks without food or water and enters a state of torpor, lowering his body temperature to 3-4 degrees and reducing his water loss to one-fifth of the normal rate.
• He is also responsible for raising the chicks until they are old enough to fend for themselves.
• When you walk through the emu enclosure in Knuthenborg, you may sometimes hear drum-like sounds. The sounds come from the emus themselves. They are created by an inflatable neck pouch that the birds can regulate.
• Emus use these sounds for communication, both for territorial marking and as a threat towards rivals.
• The drumming sound is said to be audible from a distance of 2 km.

Meet the emus in the Dinosaur Forest.