Canberra, Australia — Kevin and Carol – Two brazen emu siblings have been banned from a hotel in Australia’s Outback for bad behavior.
The tiny Yakara hotel with only four rooms and campgrounds and a pub is located in a small, isolated township of the same name in central western Queensland.
The Co-owner of the hotel Chris Gimblett told CNN Travel that the emus were once welcome visitors and would pop by every now and then for a few biscuits. Then they learned to climb stairs.
“Travelers have to be very cautious with the emus, because they will poke their heads in a caravan door and drink all the coffee without spilling the mug and steal your toast, and if you have a barbecue watch out because they’ll take everything,” he says.
“When they finish breakfast at the caravan park they come down to the hotel, and last week they figured out how to walk up the steps of the hotel.”
As a result the hotel had to put a chain rope at the top of the steps, along with a sign that reads: “Emus have been banned from this establishment for bad behavior. Please let yourself through the emu barrier and then reconnect.”
Gimblett says that the reason for the ban was: “You don’t want to get between an emu and food.”
“They’ve got very sharp beaks and they’re a bit like a vacuum cleaner where food is concerned, so we were worried about them going into the dining room and causing havoc,” he explains.
“They’re not terribly user friendly, they don’t enjoy being patted but they’re okay with their necks being stroked for a little while.” says Gimblett of emus.
It seems like the siblings have a previously caused mischief as well. Last year, before they learned to climb the front steps, someone left a gate open, giving them hotel access through the back.
