A pair of young emus made an unexpected bid for freedom this past Sunday, vaulting over a fence at Gripps Farm in Brotton, Teesside. The adventurous birds, owned by Kerys McAuley, managed to cover nearly three miles in their 24-hour escape, drawing attention from locals and spurring a community-wide search.
Ms. McAuley, who is preparing to open a petting zoo, owns four emus in total but said it was just two of them that decided to explore beyond the farm. Despite their ability to be up to six feet tall when fully grown, these particular escapees stand at about five feet and are only six months old. While emus can sometimes be aggressive, Ms. McAuley assured the public that these young ones are still getting used to people and tend to be a bit skittish.
Their breakout first led them to the fairways of Hunley Golf Club in Brotton, where they were spotted around 2 p.m. on Sunday. By the time Ms. McAuley arrived, however, the emus had disappeared, possibly in search of food. Later sightings placed them a couple of miles away, nibbling on brambles in a wooded area.
Ms. McAuley thanked the community for their help and noted that the birds could be “spooked” if approached too closely. She advised anyone who might come across them to maintain distance, as emus are known for their impressive speed once they start running. Reflecting on the incident, she humorously added, “Time for some new fencing, I think.”
The emus’ brief adventure has certainly made them local celebrities, and, thanks to the community’s quick response, they’re now safely back home, possibly plotting their next escapade.