You think squirrels are a pest problem? Try taking on an army of... emus with machine guns!

Forget garden variety wildlife wrangles. Down in the land of sunshine and surprisingly strategic birds, a true, utterly bizarre conflict unfolded. Picture this: it's 1932, and farmers are battling a feathered foe of epic proportions. The Australian government's solution? Deploy the troops! With actual machine guns!

But what happens when a military force trained for human combat encounters an enemy that's fast, surprisingly agile, and seemingly immune to a hail of bullets? Get ready for the hilariously true tale of a "war" unlike any other, where the "enemy" had more feathers than fear and the outcome left everyone scratching their heads in bewildered amusement.

This is the story of the Great Emu War, a real-life spectacle of human ingenuity meeting its match in the most unexpected, feathery fashion. Prepare for a dose of historical derp that proves sometimes, even the best-laid plans can be outrun by a determined bird.

Who knew wildlife control could lead to international laughter?