Howdy, good folks, Howe Weird here, and Comedy Week continues with an emu that looked at a quiet Japanese neighborhood and thought, “This place could use a chase scene.” Pip says birds that cannot fly should not be that committed to escape plans, but here we are.
According to UPI, police in Moriyama City, Japan, spent about two hours chasing an emu that escaped from a mobile zoo and went running through a residential area. Officers first responded to reports of an “ostrich” on the loose, which is understandable, because when a large long-legged bird appears on your street, most people do not pause for taxonomy.
The bird was later identified as an emu. It led police through the Shiga Prefecture city before being safely cornered and captured at an apartment complex. No injuries were reported, though I imagine several residents gained a story they will be telling for the rest of their lives.
The emu had escaped from Horii Zoo, a mobile zoo that said the bird is less than a year old and had been allowed to roam near the entrance. The exact escape method was not yet known, but the zoo said it was reviewing security measures while still planning to keep emus.
Pip says “reviewing security measures” is official language for “we underestimated the teenager bird.” I cannot disagree. Young creatures, whether human, feathered, or spider-sized, are famous for discovering weak points in systems adults thought were settled.
If you live around pets or livestock, safe handling starts with proper gear, such as an animal rescue net or sturdy work gloves, but large-animal captures belong to trained folks. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Pip’s Take: “If the police chase lasts two hours, the emu gets cardio credit.”
Original source: UPI — https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/09/24/japan-escaped-emu-zoo-Moriyama/2161790267116/