NSW Police Officer Chases Runaway Emu Off Busy Road

When you sign up to be a country cop in Australia, chasing emus apparently comes with the territory.

Police in Orange, New South Wales received multiple calls about an unusual traffic jam on Cargo Road. A tall, flightless bird was blocking cars and causing chaos in the small town of Nashdale.

What happened next became internet gold. A "keen, young" constable took off on foot, sprinting after the emu to guide it safely off the road. The police department filmed the pursuit and shared it online, where it quickly went viral with more than 86,000 views.

Chief Inspector David Abercrombie couldn't help but laugh about the incident. "I'm just lucky it wasn't me," he joked. "If anyone asked me to chase an emu, it'd be more like watching a startled gazelle on Prozac."

The emu sighting surprised locals who had never seen one in the area before. Nashdale resident Caro Webster said she'd witnessed cows, sheep, kangaroos, and even echidnas on Cargo Road over the years, but never an emu.

Where the bird came from remains a mystery. Wildlife rescue group WIRES noted they'd received two reports of emus near Orange recently. The organization suspects someone may have kept the bird as a pet before releasing it when it became too difficult to handle.

Sunny's Take

The best part? Everyone involved handled the situation with good humor and grace. No emus or humans were harmed, and the young constable is reportedly thrilled his moment of fame is bringing smiles to people around the world.

Chief Inspector Abercrombie used the viral moment to highlight what life is really like for rural police officers. "It's the trials and tribulations of the life of a country cop," he said. "If there's any people out there who are thinking about joining the police force and would like a career in the country, this is some of the stuff we have to deal with."

Traffic returned to normal shortly after the chase ended, and somewhere in the Australian countryside, one very confused emu is probably still wondering what all the fuss was about.