Fluffy the emu: the feathered celebrity dividing a Sunshine Coast town

A petition to remove a famous emu from his Sunshine Coast home has ruffled some feathers throughout a Queensland town that loves Fluffy.

A group of Sunshine Coast residents are petitioning to have a famous emu they claim is dangerous removed from a Sunshine Coast parklands.

Fluffy the emu and his brother Muffy were rescued and brought down to the Sunshine Coast by Clancy James in 2017, after he discovered the birds’ mother dead by the side of a road in Wondai.

In the years since, Fluffy has become a local celebrity in the Parkland Conservation Park in Nambour, amassing thousands of social media fans.

People from as far away as the UK have travelled to the Sunshine Coast to do the Nambour Park Run with him and he has a dedicated Instagram page called Fluffyofparklands.

While many locals and tourists love Fluffy and his antics, some residents are worried he may be a safety risk.

Tania Stickler, a Pelican Waters resident who has been riding her horses around the Coast for years, says she was attacked by Fluffy while riding through the Parklands earlier this month.

While Ms Stickler acknowledged the known safety risks of entering the Parklands and the clear signage that states emus live in the area, she said the “attack” was unexpected.

Signs at Nambour Parklands warning people to take caution and look out for emus.

On July 22, Ms Stickler started a petition to have Fluffy removed and relocated to a “suitable sanctuary or managed environment” like Australia Zoo or Woodfordia.

The petition stated there had been multiple reports of “aggressive and territorial behaviour” from Fluffy, particularly towards horses and riders.

“The emu has shown no fear of humans or animals and has actively chased, pecked at, kicked up at horses and their riders,” the petition stated.

“It has created dangerous situations that have led to falls, serious injury and near accidents.

“While we appreciate the park’s role in wildlife conservation, this emu poses a serious risk to public safety.”

As of Wednesday morning, the petition had 190 signatures.

Fluffy the emu with wildlife conservationist Claire Smith. Photo: Facebook / Wildlife Rescue Sunshine Coast & Barefoot on the Ground.

The movement to have Fluffy removed has received heavy criticism, particularly from wildlife advocate Claire Smith.

Ms Smith, who was recently named the Sunshine Coast’s Citizen of the Year for her conservation efforts, says the bird is being “publicly targeted” by Ms Stickler.

In a Facebook post, Ms Smith said the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service “have never found a reason to remove the emus”.

Additionally, Ms Smith said it’s Fluffy who’s really at risk, not people.

“Twice I have attended to wounds that Fluffy has received,” she wrote.

“The last one was where a huge clump of his feathers had been yanked out of his side and left a bloody patch of raw skin.”

Ms Smith said the emu was “anything but aggressive”.

“He’s a gentle bird who simply loves seeing people,” she said.

“While any animal can be spooked by sudden noises or the appearance of something unexpected, my message to horse riders is this.

“If you CHOOSE to ride your horse or pony in a conservation park where there are animals and birds it’s a good idea to remember that they have precedence over you as you are in their habitat. “

Ms Smith urged Ms Stickler to “find another park” if she did not want to run into Fluffy.

Signs at warning people to take caution and look out for emus are placed at every entrance of Nambour Parklands.

Current Bushrangers Mountain Bike Club member and past trails co-ordinator at the parklands John Searston was appalled when he heard locals were trying to have Fluffy removed.

“It’d be so sad to see him go,” Mr Searston said.

“He’s an Australian icon and a part of the parklands.”

During time spent putting up signs across the park for work and enjoying biking, running and hiking there in his free time, Mr Searston had become very familiar with Fluffy.

“He’s so cute,” he said.

“He just runs along with us.”

Mr Searston was adamant Fluffy never would have attacked a person.

“The bird is not, and never has been, violent or aggressive towards humans,” he said.

Fluffy “doesn’t like horses” and was likely spooked or feeling defensive of his territory, as it was emu mating season, Mr Searston added.

“This is the only time I’ve heard of Fluffy actually making a beeline for the horse but I still don’t know that I’d call it an attack,” he said.

Mr Searston said the parklands are “probably not an appropriate place to be riding horses” and suggested the trails were better suited to native wildlife and people walking, running or biking.

Originally published as Fluffy the emu: the feathered celebrity dividing a Sunshine Coast town