Loris, South Carolina: Emus on the Loose After Recent Escape
In Loris, South Carolina, two emus have become the latest exotic animals to draw the attention of local authorities. The feathered duo, named Thelma and Louise, have been missing for approximately three months, escaping from their home around 100 miles northeast of Charleston. Their owner, Sam Morace, has confirmed the ongoing search for the animals, which have been spotted in the nearby area.
Who Are The Emus?
Thelma and Louise are emus, the second-largest living birds in the world, standing over 5 ½ feet tall and weighing more than 130 pounds. These large, flightless birds are native to Australia and were not intended to roam free in the U.S. Morace stated that the emus decided to escape while she was moving one to another paddock. “They decided they wanted to hop the fence when we were trying to grab one of them,” Morace explained.
What Happened?
The escaped emus have stirred up quite a bit of interest in the community as residents have reported sightings through social media platforms. The Horry County Police Department has acknowledged these sightings, confirming they are working with the emus’ owner to locate and capture them. In a Facebook post, the department reassured the public that there’s no risk associated with the emus at this time, stating, “We are not emu-sed.”
Where Are They Now?
As of the latest updates, Thelma and Louise have been seen in Green Sea, an unincorporated area close to Loris. Local police and Morace are coordinating efforts in hopes of capturing the emus. Community members have voiced their support and provided suggestions, alongside critiquing the handling of the situation.
Why Are They Still at Large?
The emus are described as feral and untrained, making it challenging to recapture them. Morace has been actively seeking approval for tranquilizers to aid in their capture and expressed her frustration in a local Facebook group about the difficulties of catching them. “If emus were that easy to catch, they would be home already,” she remarked, highlighting the challenges faced by local authorities and her as an owner.
Context: Other Escapes Adding to the Chaos
Thelma and Louise’s escape follows a separate incident involving 43 monkeys that escaped from a research facility in Yemassee, South Carolina, about 60 miles west of Charleston. The situation arose when a caretaker neglected to secure the doors after a feeding, leading to 11 monkeys still remaining at large out of the 43 that originally escaped. While efforts are ongoing to recapture these monkeys, the community’s focus has shifted to the intriguing case of the emus.
Conclusion
The search for Thelma and Louise continues as they traverse the South Carolina landscape. Residents remain vigilant, and law enforcement is actively involved in the recovery efforts. As the community rallies around the unique case of these emus on the loose, both Morace and local authorities hope for a prompt and safe return of the birds to their home.
