A recent incident involving a police officer chasing an emu along a busy road in Central West New South Wales has attracted considerable attention online.
The local police were alerted to the presence of the emu, which was obstructing traffic on Cargo Road near Orange. The origins of the bird and its ultimate destination remain unknown.
The unusual chase, captured on video, showcased a police constable pursuing the emu after receiving multiple reports from the public about the bird running freely and causing disruptions in Nashdale, located to the west of Orange.
Chief Inspector David Abercrombie from the Central West Police District remarked that the “enthusiastic, young” officer decided to take action into his own hands by attempting to guide the bird off the roadway.
The video, shared by NSW Police, quickly gained traction, amassing over 86,000 views shortly after being posted online.
Reflecting on the incident, Chief Inspector Abercrombie humorously noted, “I’m just fortunate it wasn’t me. If I were asked to chase an emu, it would resemble a startled gazelle on sedatives. My speed would not be up to par.”
Having learned of the chase later in the day, he joked that he had been “more like an ostrich with [his] head in the sand” regarding the situation.
Fortunately, no injuries to either the emu or any individuals occurred during the chase, and traffic flow returned to normal shortly thereafter.
The young constable involved expressed excitement over the video’s viral status, according to Chief Inspector Abercrombie.
Interestingly, the presence of emus in this region is quite rare. Local resident Caro Webster commented on the unusual sighting, stating that she had never witnessed an emu on Cargo Road before, having only seen other animals such as cows, kangaroos, and wallabies in that area.
John Grant from the wildlife rescue organization WIRES reported that they had received two recent sightings of emus on roads around Orange, advising the public to maintain a safe distance from adult wildlife due to their unpredictable behavior when threatened.
He expressed gratitude for police involvement in such situations where displaced wildlife could pose hazards to motorists, adding that it is unclear whether the emus spotted were wild or domesticated animals that had been released.
Mr. Grant also reminded the community that handling or keeping native animals is illegal, as Australian wildlife is protected under the law.
Chief Inspector Abercrombie noted that while the police station frequently receives calls about animals on the roads, these usually concern livestock or kangaroos.
He concluded, “This is part of the unique challenges faced by country police officers. Those considering a career in law enforcement in rural areas should be prepared for such unexpected incidents.”
