Emu

A strong father figure

1. Among the emus, the females are larger than the males.

2. The ostrich family, which the emu belongs to, contains four species: emu, ostrich, rhea, and cassowary. This family of birds dates all the way back to the dinosaurs!

3. During the incubation of the eggs, it is the male who takes responsibility. He lies on the nest for eight weeks without food and enters a state of dormancy, where his body temperature is lowered to 3-4 degrees Celsius, and water loss is reduced to one-fifth. He raises the young until they are old enough to fend for themselves.

4. When you walk through the emu enclosure at Knuthenborg, you might hear drum-like sounds from the emus. The sound is used for communication - both to mark territory and as a threat against rivals.