'Catch me if you can': Runaway emu sparks Australian police chase
Police said the 'keen, young' officer who gave chase was enjoying his short-lived fame as the footage goes viral.
An Australian police officer's pursuit of a runaway emu down a rural road has become a viral sensation, with authorities leveraging the amusing incident as a recruitment tool.
The flightless bird, native to Australia, was reported to police by residents of Nashdale, located 270km (168 miles) west of Sydney, after it was observed wandering onto a road. This posed a potential risk to both traffic and the animal itself.
In an attempt to guide the emu off the road, a young officer gave chase on foot. Despite increasing his speed at one point, he was unable to apprehend his feathered quarry.
The video has garnered numerous comments about the "emu-sing" chase. One viewer drew a comparison to a famous cartoon, remarking, "Look, it's the road runner, but that's not the coyote behind him."
On Tuesday, the New South Wales police shared the footage on Facebook, stating that the officer arrived at the scene to find the bird creating a "serious traffic hazard."
"Following a brief game of 'catch me if you can', the officer successfully moved the emu away from the roadway before it could ruffle any more feathers or cause a collision," the police post read.
"It's not every day you find yourself conducting traffic management for an emu, but that's policing," the post continued, suggesting that a career as a police officer in regional areas is a good option for anyone seeking a profession where "every day brings something new."
Chief Inspector David Abercrombie of the Central West Police District noted that the "keen, young" officer involved in the chase was enjoying his fleeting fame, as the footage had accumulated nearly 90,000 views.
Abercrombie expressed relief that he wasn't the one called to the unusual scene.
"If anyone asked me to chase an emu, it'd be more like watching a startled gazelle on Prozac," he told national broadcaster ABC. "My speed would not be up to scratch."
He added that police in regional and rural areas frequently receive calls about animals on the road, though these typically involve livestock or kangaroos.
"It's the trials and tribulations of the life of a country cop," he commented.
The footage has captivated many in recent days, prompting humorous observations online.
"Wait until it turns around and chases him. Then we'll see how fast he can run," one person joked, while another wrote, "At least that bird wasn't a flight risk."
Another individual posted, "Emu wars revisited," referencing Australia's unsuccessful Emu War of 1932, when the military attempted to cull thousands of the birds that were destroying crops.