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Bindi Irwin slammed for "useless" response to animal tragedy

<p>Bindi Irwin has come under fire for her "pathetic, useless" response to a "tragedy" at a wildlife farm in the US. </p> <p>The wildlife warrior was contacted on Twitter by Taylor Blake in Florida, asking for help to cure her emu Emmanuel, who has avian influenza. </p> <p>According to Taylor, avian flu has killed 99 percent of the other birds who live at Knuckle Bump Farms, in what she described as a "massive tragedy".</p> <p>Running out of options to save her celebrity emu, Taylor reached out to the Aussie wildlife warriors online. </p> <p>Bindi Irwin responded saying that, although Australia Zoo had treated more than 100,000 animals, it had “never treated an emu with this particular disease”.</p> <p>“We will need to rely on our fellow animal experts with more experience with this avian flu,” she began, in a tweet in response to Blake’s call for help.</p> <p>She signed off the response with, “Sending love and light your way from our entire family”.</p> <p>Bindi's response was quickly condemned online, with many suggesting the Irwins might have been able to do something to assist. </p> <p>“What a pathetic, useless reply,” one Twitter user began.</p> <p>“Zero effort to help when you are in a supposedly unique position to use your influence and contacts to actually help her.”</p> <p>Another wrote, “There is a lot they (the Irwins) can do. Very few people have their massive access.”</p> <p>“Thoughts and prayers are nice, but is there not someone you could recommend, given your family has been in this field for years?” another said. “Empty words.”</p> <p>Added another, “So you don’t know of anyone in your network who could help?</p> <p>“One would assume it wouldn’t be hard for you to ask around or spread the word in the hopes someone with the right experience comes forward.”</p> <p>Despite the onslaught of criticism, others believed the Irwins would be helping in any way they could. </p> <p>One person said, “I feel quietly certain that behind the scenes they are helping resource the right specialists for Emmanuel. Quiet achievers.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Family & Pets

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A selfie-loving emu is quickly putting a small Queensland town on the map

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A town in the Queensland Hinterland is quickly finding itself on the map after news got out about a fun-run’s local mascot: Fluffy the emu.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fluffy has been turning up every Saturday to keep fun-run joggers company as they run through Nambour.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The emu is even ready to help organisers set up before the sun rises.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We don’t get big numbers normally, but since Fluffy has been around our numbers have been increasing,” Parkrun organiser Melissa Taylor told </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">7 News</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Organisers said that Fluffy has been boosting numbers as people are flying from around the nation to get a photo with the emu.</span></p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F7NEWSAdelaide%2Fvideos%2F2455662484494154%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, event organisers were worried last month as Fluffy and emu buddy Muffy might be forcibly relocated from the Nambour site due to a complaint. The complaint that was lodged to Queensland’s Parks and Wildlife Services.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">QPWS spoke to </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">7 News</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and said that at the time, there is no intention to remove the animals. Rangers would be monitoring the emus closely.</span></p>

Domestic Travel

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Baby emus and joeys cuddle in adorable photos

<p>Baby animals? Check. Snuggling? Check. In what might have been the cutest phenomenon ever, a baby kangaroo and two baby emus were caught cuddling at Victoria’s Wild Action Zoo.</p> <p>The chicks, named Eli and Edi, were born a few days ago, and have quickly taken to their kangaroo friend, eight-month-old joey, Reuben.</p> <p><img width="499" height="630" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/8625/rexusa_2806021c_720-507x640_499x630.jpg" alt="Rexusa _2806021c _720-507x 640" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p><strong><img width="500" height="553" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/8626/rexusa_2806021d_720-579x640_500x553.jpg" alt="Rexusa _2806021d _720-579x 640" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></strong></p> <p><img width="499" height="530" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/8627/rexusa_2806021b_720-603x640_499x530.jpg" alt="Rexusa _2806021d _720-579x 640 (1)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/pets/2015/08/pets-sleeping-in-bed/">Should you let pets sleep in your bed?</a></span></em></strong></p> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/pets/2015/08/signs-your-pet-is-sick/">10 signs your pet is sick</a></span></em></strong></p> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/pets/2015/07/pets-improve-health/">How can having pets improve your health? Let us count the ways</a></span></em></strong></p>

News

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This mob of emus had the most incredible reaction to a cat toy

<p>You know those cat toys that seemingly move around all on its own? Well, someone decided to toss one into a group of unsuspecting emus and ostriches and their reactions are hilarious.</p> <p>Is it just us or should cat toys be renamed emu toys? Becuase those emus seemed to be so <em>emused</em> with the toy (sorry, we had too.)  </p> <div class="fb-video" data-allowfullscreen="1" data-href="/929theBULL/videos/vb.359093871871/10153014342981872/?type=1"> <div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"> <blockquote><a href="https://www.facebook.com/929theBULL/videos/10153014342981872/"></a> <p>Pat: You know those popular toys where there's a fake weasel attached to a ball that kinda hops around?Well apparently someone decided it would be fun to toss one into a group of emus.The results are pretty much what you'd expect. Lol. Their reactions are awesome.</p> Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/929theBULL">92.9 The Bull</a> on Friday, 19 June 2015</blockquote> </div> </div> <p> </p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/07/australian-wildlife-at-grave-risk-finds-study/">Threatened Australian wildlife at grave risk from habitat loss, study finds</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/07/peanut-turtle-litter/">Turtle lives 20 years after being cut free from a six-pack ring</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/07/baby-elephant-falls-in-well/">Mother elephant spends 11 hours trying to free baby from well</a></strong></em></span></p>

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