Emus, the large, flightless birds native to Australia, often spark curiosity due to their imposing size. These birds, second only to ostriches in height, raise questions about their relationship with humans. Many wonder if these creatures are truly domesticated, or if their interactions with people are simply a result of taming.
What is Domestication?
Domestication is a long-term process involving multiple generations where humans selectively breed animals for specific desirable traits. This sustained relationship results in genetic changes that alter an animal’s appearance, physiology, and behavior, making them more amenable to living with humans and often dependent on them for survival. Humans control their reproduction, ensuring individuals with preferred characteristics pass on their genes. This process, also known as artificial selection, has transformed wild species, leading to genetic differences from their wild ancestors.
Are Emus Domesticated?
Emus are not considered domesticated animals. Despite human care, they largely retain wild instincts and have not undergone the multi-generational selective breeding necessary for true domestication. Unlike domesticated species, emus have not been genetically altered to depend on humans or consistently exhibit tamed behaviors across generations. While individual emus can become accustomed to human presence, their fundamental nature remains wild.
Their inherent independence and flight or fight responses are characteristic of a wild animal, even when raised by people. They possess powerful legs and sharp claws, used for defense. The species has not been subjected to enough human-controlled breeding to alter their genetic makeup for docility or other traits typical of domesticated animals.
Taming Versus Domestication
Understanding the distinction between taming and domestication is important. Taming refers to the behavioral modification of an individual wild animal, where it becomes accustomed to human presence and handling, often through training and positive reinforcement. This process does not involve genetic changes and is limited to that specific animal’s lifespan. For example, a wild-born animal can be tamed to accept human interaction, but its offspring will still possess wild instincts.
In contrast, domestication involves permanent genetic changes across an entire species or population, leading to an inherited predisposition toward humans. These changes are passed down through generations, resulting in traits like reduced aggression, altered physical appearance, and increased dependency on humans. While emus can be tamed, especially if raised from chicks, this individual behavioral adaptation does not translate into the genetic modifications characteristic of a domesticated species.
Emus in Human Care
Emus are kept in captivity for various purposes, including farming and as exotic pets. On farms, they are primarily raised for their lean meat, oil, and durable leather. Emu oil is valued in cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries for its anti-inflammatory properties, while their leather is used for accessories like boots and belts.
Keeping emus requires significant resources, including large spaces, specialized diets, and an understanding of their natural behaviors. They need ample room to run, ideally several acres, and robust fencing at least six feet high to contain them. While they can form bonds with human caretakers, especially if raised from a young age, they retain their powerful defensive kicks and independent nature. Even in human care, emus thrive with the company of other emus and require a diet formulated for ratites, rather than typical livestock feed.