Last week, the Dade City Police Department in Florida received reports of an emu running loose around the city. Authorities dispatched a traffic patrol unit to the scene, which had to chase the large bird on foot to prevent a dangerous situation for residents.
"Before the coffee could kick in, dispatch sent us to catch an emu," the city police wrote on Facebook, humorously commenting that the animal seemed to have chosen sunday for its excursion.
The Dade City Police Department joked that its officers are trained to respond to many situations, but "emu chasing" has not been included in the training program.
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Police used a lead rope to guide the "disruptive" emu away from the railway tracks before placing it in a patrol car on 26/7. Photo: Dade City Police Department |
Police used a lead rope to guide the "disruptive" emu away from the railway tracks before placing it in a patrol car on 26/7. Photo: Dade City Police Department
Published images show an officer using an animal control pole to guide the emu across the road. In another photo, the bird was placed in the back seat of a patrol car, becoming a unique passenger for Dade City police.
Police reported no injuries during the pursuit. It remains unclear who owned the emu or how it appeared on Dade City streets. Police also did not disclose where they took the animal after apprehending it.
The emu is a flightless bird native to Australia. Standing up to 1,9 meters tall, it ranks as the second-largest bird globally. Emus also hold symbolic significance, appearing on Australia's coat of arms alongside the kangaroo.
An emu ran amidst traffic on Salisbury Highway, Maryland, during a chase lasting over three hours on 30/5. Video: X/CBS
This was not the first time US police had to apprehend a loose emu. In january, police in Florida used a lasso and handcuffed two of an emu's legs after it kicked an officer and fled.
In may, an emu led police in Maryland on a chase lasting over three hours on Salisbury Highway. The animal repeatedly evaded capture and continued running even after a car hit it, before police controlled it with a dog leash and returned it to its owner.
Ha Linh (According to FOX 13, UPI, WFLA, AP)
