Wars started by animals
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Wars Started by Animals — Daily trivia Thursday, May 21, 2026: questions and answers
All 10 questions with answers and explanations. Play this daily
Q 01Which country's army waged an 'Emu War' against crop-damaging birds?
- ASouth Africa
- BArgentina
- CAustralia
- DNew Zealand
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Australia
The Emu War was a unique military operation undertaken by Australia in 1932 to address public concern over emus destroying wheat crops in Western Australia.
Q 02What were Australian soldiers sent to do in the so-called Emu War?
- ATo establish new farming settlements
- BTo reduce the emu population damaging crops
- CTo capture emus for scientific study
- DTo train soldiers in desert warfare
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To reduce the emu population damaging crops
Soldiers with machine-guns were sent to reduce the emu population damaging crops after about 20,000 emus descended on Western Australia's wheat farms.
Q 03Which US state has repeatedly battled infestations of the invasive Giant African Land Snail?
- AFlorida
- BTexas
- CLouisiana
- DCalifornia
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Florida
Florida has been reinfested repeatedly: giant African land snails were reported in Miami in 1966 and again in 2011, each outbreak taking nearly a decade to eradicate, with further introductions in 2022 and 2023 placed under quarantine.
Q 04How is the outcome of Australia's Emu War popularly remembered?
- AThe emus were considered the 'victors'
- BA stalemate with no clear victor
- CA complete eradication of the emu population
- DA decisive victory for the military
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The emus were considered the 'victors'
The emus were considered the victors: they largely evaded the soldiers, who were withdrawn with minimal impact on the emu population, and a 1953 Sydney newspaper called it the bird's most complete victory.
Q 05In which region of Western Australia did most of the 'Emu War' operations take place?
- ACampion District
- BKimberley Region
- CPilbara Region
- DPerth Metropolitan Area
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Campion District
The Emu War primarily occurred in the Campion district within the Wheatbelt of Western Australia, where emus were destroying crops planted by soldier-settlers.
Q 06Which animal did settler Thomas Austin release for hunting?
- ARed fox
- BCane toad
- CFeral camel
- DEuropean rabbit
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European rabbit
The European rabbit: Austin had his nephew send rabbits from England for sport, by 1866 hunters had killed 50,000, and Western Australia later built a 3,256 km rabbit-proof fence.
Q 07Which European country approved sending 177 soldiers to shoot wild boar to protect its pork industry?
- AFrance
- BItaly
- CPoland
- DGermany
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Italy
Italy deployed 177 soldiers in 2024 to cut the wild boar population by 80% over five years, fearing African swine fever would reach the pigs behind its €8 billion prosciutto and sausage industry.
Q 08Which firearm did Australian soldiers mainly use in the so-called 'Emu War'?
- ALee-Enfield rifles
- BLewis guns
- COwen submachine guns
- DVickers machine guns
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Lewis guns
The Royal Australian Artillery detachment was issued two Lewis guns and 10,000 rounds of ammunition to cull the emus.
Q 09What health risk does the Giant African Land Snail pose to humans as a parasite carrier?
- ALyme disease
- BMalaria
- CRat lungworm, causing meningitis
- DYellow fever
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Rat lungworm, causing meningitis
Rat lungworm, causing meningitis: the snail can carry Angiostrongylus cantonensis, usually caught by eating raw or undercooked snails, though even handling live wild snails can pass it on.
Q 10Who commanded the Royal Australian Artillery unit sent to fight the 'Emu War'?
- AGeneral Sir Harry Chauvel
- BCaptain Charles Kingsford Smith
- CColonel John Monash
- DMajor Gwynydd Purves Wynne-Aubrey Meredith
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Major Gwynydd Purves Wynne-Aubrey Meredith
Major Gwynydd Purves Wynne-Aubrey Meredith led the gunners, and afterwards compared the emus to Zulus, marvelling that they kept manoeuvring even when badly wounded.
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