Did you know that Emus don’t walk backwards? As large flightless birds, emus are capable of sprinting over long distances and can reach speeds up to 48km/hr. They are able to do so because of an adaptation in their legs that is not present in other birds, the gastrocnemius muscle (calf). Although the reason behind their inability to walk backwards is still unknown, it’s speculated that the knee joint simply prevents them from moving in that direction. (📸: zookeeper Melissa) #ClosedButStillCarin

In a race between an emu and an ostrich, guess who would win? . . . [VID: How does an emu differ from an ostrich? These large, flightless birds belong to the same family, the ratite. But there are differences between them -- in size, habitat, and speed. The ostrich is the world’s largest bird, measuring nine feet tall and weighing over 300 pounds. The emu is the runner-up, measuring up to seven feet tall and weighing up to 125 pounds. The birds are found on different continents. Emus are native