An emu under one year old escaped from the Horii Zoo's mobile exhibit in Moriyama City and led police on an approximately two-hour pursuit through a residential neighborhood before being cornered and captured at an apartment complex.
Residents initially reported the animal as an "ostrich." The zoo is investigating how the bird escaped, reviewing security measures, and says it will continue keeping emus. No injuries were reported.
Police in Moriyama City, Shiga Prefecture, spent roughly two hours pursuing a juvenile emu that escaped from a mobile zoo and ran through a residential neighborhood on Wednesday morning.
Emergency calls initially reported what residents described as an "ostrich" on the loose, prompting officers to respond to multiple sightings. The flightless bird was later confirmed to be an emu under one year old. It evaded capture while moving through streets and yards before being cornered and safely captured at an apartment complex.
Authorities traced the bird to the Horii Zoo's mobile exhibit. The zoo said the emu had been allowed to roam near the exhibit entrance; investigators have not yet determined precisely how it escaped. Horii Zoo announced it will review security procedures but intends to continue including emus in its program.
No injuries were reported during the bird's time on the loose, and the emu was captured without harm.
The incident highlights challenges of managing mobile animal exhibits in residential areas and the need for clear containment protocols to prevent similar escapes in the future.
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