Emmanuel the emu has become an internet sensation and animal celebrity after escaping from his home in North Carolina earlier this year. Emmanuel captured the hearts of many as he went on adventures around the local neighborhood, evading capture and living his best free bird life. Now Emmanuel is back home safe and sound – but how is he adjusting to post-viral fame life? Let’s take a look at how this feathered friend is doing today.
Quick Facts on Emmanuel
- Species: Emu
- Age: Unknown, estimated around 5 years old
- Home: North Carolina, USA
- Owner: Taylor Blake
- Famous For: Escaping and exploring the local neighborhood
- Social Media Following: Over 50,000 Instagram followers
Emmanuel is an emu, a large flightless bird native to Australia that is raised on farms around the world. Emus can grow up to 6 feet tall and weigh over 100 pounds. Emmanuel lives on a farm in North Carolina with his owner Taylor Blake, who runs Knuckle Bump Farms and creates content with her animals for social media.
Back in July 2022, Emmanuel escaped from his home and spent over 40 days on the run in the local neighborhood. Sightings of Emmanuel soon went viral online as he explored, ran through the streets, and evaded capture. Emmanuel enchanted people with his curiosity and will to roam free. Eventually he was safely and humanely captured by Taylor and returned home.
Emmanuel’s Life Today
Now that his great escape adventure is over, so how is Emmanuel the emu doing these days? By all accounts, Emmanuel remains happy, healthy, and well-cared for by his owner Taylor and the Knuckle Bump Farms team.
He continues to live in North Carolina with the other animals of Knuckle Bump Farms, including fellow emu Eden, two ducks, several horses, dogs, and cats. Emmanuel seems to enjoy interacting with his animal pals. Videos show them running, playing, and nuzzling each other.
According to Taylor’s social media posts, Emmanuel’s typical day consists of:
- Morning walks and breakfast
- Free roaming time in his pasture
- Foraging, playing, and bird baths
- Interacting with visitors and fans
- Relaxing in his private, fenced area at end of day
It appears Emmanuel remains in good health after his headline-grabbing antics. He seems to have settled back into his normal daily routine. Taylor also takes Emmanuel and Eden to visit with fans, attend events, and make public appearances.
Diet and Exercise
As an emu, Emmanuel requires a specialized diet to remain healthy. In the wild, emus eat fruits, seeds, leaves, flowers, and insects. On the farm, Taylor feeds Emmanuel:
- Special Ratite Feed with amino acids
- Greens like kale, peas, okra, broccoli
- Insects when available
Fresh clean water is always provided. Treats like mealworms are given in moderation. Proper nutrition helps keep Emmanuel’s bones, muscles, and immune system strong.
Exercise is also important for emus like Emmanuel. In nature, emus cover large home ranges while foraging. At Knuckle Bump Farms, Emmanuel receives daily outside time to walk and run. His pasture provides at least 1 acre of space to roam and forage. The farm animals also participate in play time and enrichment activities using boxes, tunnels, and toys. This stimulates natural exercise.
Housing and Care
Behind the scenes, Taylor ensures Emmanuel receives proper housing and care. Emus require:
- A minimum of 400 square feet of shelter space
- 10-15 square feet per bird outdoors
- Proper temperature control
- Secure, roofed shelter from weather
- Proper ventilation
- Regular cleaning and disinfection
- Opportunities to bathe
At Knuckle Bump Farms, Emmanuel sleeps in a coop with his emu sister Eden. During the day he accesses a private, securely fenced outdoor space. Providing enriched housing prevents some problematic emu behaviors like feather plucking. Emmanuel appears well-adjusted to farm life with his animal friends around him.
Social Media and Fame
One unique aspect of Emmanuel’s life is that he’s a social media influencer! Emmanuel has over 50,000 Instagram followers. Fans look forward to regular photo and video updates of his adventures.
Some key stats about Emmanuel’s viral Instagram account:
- 50.8k followers
- Over 500 posts
- 18.6k likes on most popular post
- Features videos, photos, reels
- Content with Eden, Taylor, other animals
Taylor also sells Emmanuel-themed merchandise like t-shirts, mugs, and phone cases in her online shop. A portion of proceeds benefits the farm animals.
While Emmanuel’s viral saga has passed, he still receives fan mail and visitors to the farm. People even have Emmanuel tattooed on their bodies! All this attention doesn’t appear to faze Emmanuel though. He seems happiest just spending time with his family, both human and animal.
Personality and Behaviors
So what is Emmanuel like? According to owner Taylor, he has a goofy, lovable personality.
Some of Emmanuel’s traits include:
- Friendly and social
- Playful, enjoys enrichment toys
- Curious and adventurous
- Loves bath time
- Runs fast, up to 30 mph
- Makes unusual honking noises
- Enjoys interacting with people
Emus have some unique behaviors people may find surprising:
- Have good memories and problem-solving abilities
- Male emus sit on the eggs to incubate them
- Emus have small wings but cannot fly
- They groom themselves frequently
- Can swim when needed
- Have sharp claws for self-defense
While emus don’t make traditional “good pets,” Emmanuel enjoys close bonds with his animal and human friends. He seems to thrive on the stimulation and activity of farm life.
Health and Veterinary Care
To keep Emmanuel healthy, Taylor partners closely with their veterinarian Dr. Michael Chaffin. Dr. Chaffin has over 20 years of experience caring for exotic animals like emus.
Some key aspects of emu health include:
- Annual wellness exams
- Vaccinations for diseases like pox
- Preventative care for parasites
- Testing for nutritional issues
- X-rays and other diagnostics when ill
- 24/7 access to veterinary care
Emus can be susceptible to:
- Stress-related illness
- Respiratory infections
- Gastrointestinal parasites
- Bumblefoot sores on feet
- Egg binding in females
With proper nutrition, housing, and veterinary oversight, emus like Emmanuel can live 10-15 years or longer. Open communication ensures Emmanuel receives the best care.
Breeding and Mating
In the wild, emus form mating pairs during breeding season from December to March. On farms, responsible breeding helps preserve the future of the species.
If Emmanuel were to breed, the process would involve:
- Introducing Emmanuel to female emus during breeding season
- Allowing natural mating to occur
- Male emu sits on the eggs to incubate them
- Eggs hatch after 50-60 days incubation
- Chicks mature and leave the nest at 6 months old
There is no evidence Emmanuel has sired any offspring yet. As a domesticated pet, Taylor has no plans to breed Emmanuel right now. Proper breeding requires extensive experience to be done responsibly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Emmanuel’s viral story has left many people curious. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
Why did Emmanuel escape?
Emus are innately curious and love to wander. It’s in their wild nature! Fences and enclosures have to be exceptionally secure to contain them, which is a challenge when housing exotic animals. Emmanuel spotted a weakness in the fence and managed to escape.
What did Emmanuel do while escaped?
Emmanuel explored the local neighborhood, observed humans going about their daily lives, and evaded capture for over 40 days! He visited stores, crossed busy roads, and ran through parking lots. Locals had hilarious encounters trying to catch him.
How was Emmanuel captured?
After several weeks on the run, Emmanuel began allowing people to approach him. Taylor set up a corral with his favorite treats inside to lure him back home. Once Emmanuel entered the enclosure, they were able to safely and humanely secure him and return him to the farm.
Does Emmanuel have a mate?
No, Emmanuel is not currently mated. Male emus form temporary pairs with females only during breeding season. The rest of the year they live and socialize in groups with other males. Emmanuel hangs out with his fellow farm animals but has no permanent mate.
What is Emmanuel’s personality like?
Emmanuel is goofy, friendly, and very curious according to owner Taylor. He loves interacting with people, playing, and going on adventures. Emus are highly intelligent so he needs lots of stimulation and enrichment.
The Future for Emmanuel
While no one can predict the future, Emmanuel looks set to continue charming fans and living his best emu life. As long as he remains in Taylor’s care, Emmanuel should have many more healthy and happy years ahead.
He seems content being one of Taylor’s beloved Knuckle Bump Farms animals. Fans can look forward to more hilarious content and watching Emmanuel grow. Beyond his viral fame, Emmanuel will be cared for as a cherished pet and friend.
Emus can form bonds with humans and thoroughly enjoy interaction and companionship. With his playful and friendly personality, Emmanuel the emu has clearly won over the hearts of his owner Taylor and fans worldwide. Here’s to many more adventures!
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emmanuel the emu is doing well these days! He remains healthy and happy living on Knuckle Bump Farms with his owner Taylor and fellow animal friends. While Emmanuel enjoyed his days on the run exploring neighborhood freedom, he seems content being back home interacting with fans and bringing joy to others.
Emus require specialized care, housing, and veterinary oversight which Taylor is providing. Emmanuel’s viral following allows Taylor to continue educating about proper emu care and responsible exotic animal ownership. With his friendly, goofy personality Emmanuel is sure to continue charming fans near and far. For this emu, the adventure continues as he revels in both farm life and viral fame.