A photograph of a sketch of a horseman hunting an emu.

A flightless bird, emus have long powerful legs which enable them to reach speeds of up to 50 km per hour, and a stride of up to 3 metres. An emu will run in a zig zag pattern if attacked from above, and at close quarters the birds are capable of powerful kicks. Emus were hunted by European settlers for food but also to remove them as a threat to farming or pastoral activities, where they competed with grazing stock for water. Emus were also hunted by the Aboriginal people for food; the bird's fat was a valuable commodity used for bush medicine, as a lubricant or waterproofing agent and mixed with ochre was used for body paint.

Female emus play no part in incubating the eggs, or in raising the chicks. The male does this alone, remaining on the nest for most of the 8-10 weeks required for hatching, and then raising them for up to two years.