Swimming emus in WA’s Murchison River depart guests in awe

A gaggle of emus swimming in certainly one of Western Australia’s longest rivers has shocked vacationers and locals alike.

A video on social media that has garnered greater than 5 million views reveals the emus’ lengthy necks bobbing by the Murchison River as they swim to shore.

Kalbarri Cruises proprietor Tracy Grosvenor, who took the video, stated they have been working an everyday tour on the Murchison after they noticed the birds.

“We were probably nearly at the turnaround point, and in the distance, we can see these little black shadows crossing the river, and we didn’t know what they were,” she stated.

“So, we quickly zoomed up and there were four emus fully swimming across the Murchison.”

The state’s second-largest river is about 800 kilometres lengthy and residential to lots of of hen species.

Ms Grosvenor and her husband Grant have run common excursions on the river for greater than 14 years.

She stated whereas they’d seen many emus alongside the river’s edge earlier than, this was the primary time they’d witnessed them swimming.

“It was just right place, right time to capture it on footage,” she stated.

The odd sight additionally delighted the group that was visiting the area.

“Everyone was so excited. We all ran up the front and the boat sort of tipped nose down,” Ms Grosvenor stated.

Many individuals who have commented on the video posted to Instagram and Facebook have been fast to level out the similarity of the scene to a well-liked Scottish folklore. 

“I know people have thought it’s the Loch Ness Monster or swimming elephant trunks,” Ms Grosvenor stated.

Geraldton-based wildlife carer and vet nurse Jaydene Bartley stated swimming was truly fairly frequent for the flightless birds.

“These guys love going through the water and having a good bath,” she stated.

“They have such heavy down underneath their feathers that it helps keep them cool throughout summer in particular and then aids in the cleaning for them.”

Ms Bartley stated the behaviour was seen incessantly in WA’s north, the place summer time temperatures typically hit 40 levels Celsius.

“However, it is seen throughout [the state] when there are puddles of water around,” she stated.

Ms Bartley stated emus have been robust swimmers and used to crossing massive our bodies of water to seek out meals when wanted.

“Their food is sparse throughout. They have to sort of be able to travel across the river to get food, particularly when it’s warmer days like this.”