'Extraordinary Situation': Emu Musters Sheep on Bushfire-Ravaged Land in Victoria
Victorian landowner Bryan Hayden was astounded by an “extraordinary” act when he came across an emu mustering a mob of sheep after bushfires scorched a property at Buchan and destroyed paddock fencing.
In a video posted to Hayden’s real estate business Facebook page on January 16, Hayden said the emu had been helping out for at least two days.
“After the bushfires at Buchan we came across an emu that was corralling all the sheep. It’s mustering all the sheep for us and he’s been doing it for two days. [It’s the] most extraordinary situation.”
Hayden found the emu while inspecting his 800-hectare farm after a bushfire on December 30 burnt through 90 percent of the pasture and fencing.
“There are virtually no fences left standing making stock handling very difficult,” Hayden said in a Facebook post.
“While trying to inspect the surviving sheep, a wild emu instinctively rounded up a flock of ewes and lambs and held them in place as a normal sheep dog would do. Then off to find another flock. Hard to believe, but in disaster nature prevails,” he said. Credit: Bryan Hayden via Storyful
