Cruising on NH-8 towards Shekhawati on one sunny January morning, we passed by fields of golden bouquets of mustard flowers, waving their heads merrily in welcome. Ofcourse we stopped to hop into the fields and pose and preen.
Aiming to reach our destination in five hours (homestay manager had estimated 3-4 hours drive), we made unscheduled stops to suit our fancy. Our next stop was this:
The track ran parallel to the road for quite a distance and was quite a unique feeling and sight for us – don’t ask me why!
Then a signboard caught our fancy as we zoomed past it. Both of us looked at each other to see if we had read it right. Even then, we just reversed to see it again.
Emu????? In Haryana?????
Maybe its something else and the gaonwallas don’t know any better, we reasoned to each other.
We just had to get down to check it out and believe me when I say this was a jaw dropping moment for us. There was a large pen with some 10-12 birds and yes they were Emus!!! We met the gentleman who owned the farm and he was not only happy but proud to show us around.
So it seemed Emu farming is a big thing in India and there is a Pune based company that helps you set up the farm and later buys the eggs back from you. It’s quite a rage, he stated and he was quite convinced to take it up as farming hadn’t been very productive over the years.
“Its easier to take care and reap returns from the Emu as opposed to from the crops which are too dependent on the unpredictable weather gods.”
We couldn’t make out what the eggs are used for, as the man didn’t know either. He also couldn’t explain what “Traning” they give to the Emu (as mentioned in their signboard). So we just walked around the cage, clicking these magnificent birds that stared out at us with sad doleful eyes.
As we continued our journey, these signboards became pretty commonplace and we realised it’s really caught on as a business in the tiny villages of India which seemed to be teeming with the bird entrepreneurs.
On my part, I never thought I would see these exotic down-under natives, nestling in little known farms in the Haryana hinterland.
“I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.”
– Mary Anne Radmacher –
So what is he strangest and unexpected sight you have encountered on your travels, especially road trips? Would love to hear about your travel moments?
Fact File:
- Haryana is an Indian state which is primarily agricultural in nature.
- It borders Rajasthan on one hand and Delhi on the other. It has an excellent network of railway and roadways.
- Nearest airport is New Delhi
You can hop over to read my other posts of my travels to some more unique and exotic destinations in Rajasthan, India here:
- You have got mail in Udaipur
- Colours of devotion in Udaipur
- Majestic Kumbhalgarh Fort in Udaipur
- Wish upon the stars in Jaisalmer
- Leather that weathers in Pushkar
- Japanese Kalbeliya dancers in Pushkar
- Pushkar – a foodie haven!
- Bodyart in Bikaner
- Stopover at Rawla Narlai
A blooming post on F coming up tomorrow – stay tuned folks!
For the uninitiated, AtoZ challenge is a blogging challenge wherein one has to write on every alphabet from A to Z and post on all days of April, except Sundays. Usually its better to devise a theme as it makes it easy to write the posts. Plus readers have a reason to stay hooked too.
The A to Z Challenge is created by Arlee Bird of Tossing it Out
and co-hosted by
Alex J. Cavanaugh of Alex J. Cavanaugh
Jeremy Hawkins of Hollywood Nuts
Heather M. Gardner of The Waiting is the Hardest Part
Zalka Csenge Virág of The Multicolored Diary
John Holton of The Sound of One Hand Typing
J Lenni Dorner of Blog of J. Lenni Dorner
You’ve certainly picked the right theme! Emus in Haryana is something I’d never have expected either. And do enlighten me if you ever find out how the emus were trained. Maybe it’s a secret, underground Emu fighting ring and they’re getting built up for that 😉
Thanks Shailaja… I think so too that it’s a spy training centre 😉
Emu? Wow. I had no idea either till I read your post. Goes to show there can always be something unexpected in a journey. 🙂
Ha ha yes Vinay it was a sure surprise. But then India is full of such incredible stuff 🙂
This post made me nostalgic. when I was at age 12 my father used to take me to his friend’s farm where he had 2 emus that used to tap my father’s belt with it’s beak as a sign of love.
You brought up extinction to action shalz
Thanks Shraesta that sounds like a lovely childhood memory 🙂
Surprising, that you find them here too. The pics are really nice specially the closeup of its face!
Thanks so much Radhika 🙂
We once toyed with the idea of an emu farm but I’m glad we didn’t because this is not a profitable venture. In fact it is quite a scam. I actually had the emu meat and it was quite tough…..Not a patch on all the meat we are used to eating
Oh wow I had no idea it’s a tough meat. I think it went on like a crazy Ponzi scheme in rural areas. 🙂
I had no idea emu farming was so popular in India! That must have been a wow moment to spot them in such an unexpected place, no?
Ha ha yes indeed Swathi it was quite a shock. 😉
With these lovely clicks and Emu, I also become an an avid fan of your photography dear 🙂
Truly Yours Roma
Oh thank you Roma, that’s one compliment I just LOVE to hear all the time 😉
Emu in Haryana? That’s bloody brilliant! Those photographs are stunning, especially with the caption ‘sad, doleful eyes’. Super cute 🙂 Thanks for sharing this, Shalini. I’m keeping a note of this.
Ha ha. Thanks Shalzzz I was quite stunned too. 🙂
I have never seen an Emu. But how are they trained and for what?
My question exactly Susan but didn’t get a reply from the man. Secret service training perhaps 😉
I enjoyed your post on Emus farming. I loved the picture you shared of the Emu looking through the fence., In fact, I am now very curious about the purpose of the farming. I think people eat ostrich’s eggs … A free zone place for birds is just awesome! I had no idea there were such farms so close to Delhi.
Thanks for sharing
Best wishes!
Thanks so much Karnika. I guess the eggs and meat is what the deal would be. I saw them in 2012, wonder if they still exist..
I once lived in a campus in Kerala where they had two hospitals, an ayurvedic college, engineering college, a lake, many wonderful birds… And an emu farm 🙂
The first time I saw it I was shocked I didn’t know what to say. Got to used to it later on.
Oh that sounds lovely Roshan
I have seen an Emu Farm and my husband was given the proposal to start one too. But somehow, it didnt appeal to us.
Love your clicks.
I guess it’s like a Ponzi scheme in rural areas 😉
Thanks Shilpa
Huh! I’m curious how they got the emus there in the first place…did they get eggs from Down Under or the actual birds and then had them lay eggs? The mind boggles! 😛 Lovely pics as always!
Thanks Sanchie.. yeah the chicken and egg story- which came first 😉
Never knew there was emu farming in India. I’ve seen emus in Australia and they can be pretty vicious. Nice pics.
Thanks Suzy – most unexpected for me too. 🙂
Even, I had no idea about this farm. Thankyou for sharing this Shalz! 🙂
You are welcome Zainab
The giant birds cannot fly and have the strength to survive in 0 degree celsius as well as 52 degrees celsius. With a high degree of resistance, they remain free from all kinds of diseases and have a lifespan of 30-40 years. They eat leaves, vegetables, fruits, insects and grains and drink eight to ten litres of water daily. You need to invest about Rs 25lakh to purchase 50 pairs of these birds and construct a shed for them. This was a hot business few years back in Hyderabad, didnt know this spread to Haryana. Its egg, feather, mutton, empty shell of egg, nails, oil and skin all are useful. But I am against killing this animal for such benefits.
Wow! You are an encyclopaedia of info Roms…
People in the US raise ostriches, which are supposed to be good for the meat. Whether someone would be doing that with emus in India, I wouldn’t know…
I guess so John. It might be for the same purpose.
I have seen too many emus and deer in my life! I wish I could say the same for dolphins though 😉
Emu training centre? Maybe they have all these hidden treadmills and protein supplements around. 😛
Ha ha I tried very hard to find the training part but the man wouldn’t say. Made me wonder too if they were fed n exercised to develop more muscle Cheers Mithila
Aren’t they such a beauty? I’m sure they look equally magnificent in real! And their eyes, I find them so full of questions… so inquisitive!
I didn’t know they could be seen here in India!
Cheers
They were magnificent Geetika. I was so stunned to find them here.
I had no idea emus were in India – it’s nice to think they’ve made it so far across the globe! We had horses from India shipped to Western Australia in the 1800’s so maybe it was a cultural exchange 🙂
Leanne | cresting the hill
Yeah it was a big shock for me too! I can imagine them being in India!! 😉
Likely a financial exchange 😉
Wow! I had no idea about these farms! How interesting. Lovely pics 🙂
Thanks Ish
Emu in India!! woa now that’s news to me too. I love your pictures… the railway track one is soooo beautifully captures 😀 Even I was wondering what actually they are training the Emus for.
Thanks Raj 🙂
Training bit is a googly for the mind and am still trying to find out. 😉
Interesting post on Emu Farms in Haryana. Very well written 🙂 I liked the featured photo of Emu and the first
photo of road reflection in the side mirror. Both these photos are perfectly captured. Even the railway tracks
photo looks great. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks so much Sachin; compliments are always great to hear 🙂
Emu cultivation and training in Haryana! India and Haryana never ceases to amaze me. Where is this farm located? Is it on the Jaipur highway? What do they do with eggs of Emu? Emu being a relative of Ostrich must be able to run very fast on dry arid lands. They can hit pretty hard to when angry and threatened. Nice and informative post. Thank you for sharing.
This one was in Pali – they seemed to be breeding it for the egg which they sold to some “corporate” company! Apparently it was a major quick rich scheme which went awry – the Emus were bought from a farm in Pune which breeds and sells them and also helps to set the farms!
Thank you for explaining. How to get rich quick with Emu egg? After all, it will remain an egg; a bit bigger may be still not gden!