Claims extracted
25
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
0%
0 of 25 hedged
("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
68/100
ABC News (AU)'s corrections and
hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Other
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Every morning before 6am when pensioner Mal Richards walks down his driveway to collect the day's newspaper, his nemesis is waiting.
asserted
nemesis → walk → newspaper
It's not a typical villain, but a beady-eyed, long-necked emu known by residents in this north Queensland community as Eric.
asserted
It → know → Eric
Mr Richards said the female emu had been pestering him for the past nine months, leaving him trapped inside his home on Townsville's outskirts, afraid to venture into his garden.
asserted
emu → say → garden
"It stands around honking all day," Mr Richards said.
asserted
Richards → stand → ?
"I've got to do my daily chores and every time I turn around, he's under my feet."
asserted
he → get → feet
The retiree said despite securing the property and locking his fence, Eric always finds a way through.
asserted
Eric → say → way
"I know they kick badly and I've got to watch out.
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I → know → ?
Mr Richards said.
asserted
Richards → say → ?
"It seems friendly, but I don't trust them."
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I → seem → them
Mr Richards said he reported Eric to the Townsville City Council and the state government's Department of Primary Industries as well as the environment department but "they all pass the buck".
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they → say → buck
A Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation spokesperson said rangers had been monitoring an emu in Bluewater that "has not been seen to exhibit any concerning behaviour".
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that → say → behaviour
"Residents are asked to give the emu plenty of space and not to feed it or provide it access to food," the spokesperson said.
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spokesperson → ask → food
Mr Richards is frustrated authorities have been unable to help move Eric on, and he's not happy that Eric keeps pooing on his driveway.
'Little legend'
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Eric → frustrate → driveway
The Bluewater community Facebook page is filled with posts of Eric sightings and several warnings for drivers to slow down while it is near the roadside.
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it → fill → roadside
"Everyone that sees [it] instantly falls in love with [it] <3," one local wrote.
"
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local → see → <3
Another resident wrote that she saw schoolchildren at the bus stop forced to climb a nearby fence to escape Eric's attempt to come and say hello.
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schoolchildren → write → attempt
Wildlife educator Jackie Hasling said Eric was known locally as an unusual emu, though she does not know why the animal is called Eric.
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animal → say → emu
"She's certainly a little legend around Bluewater," she said.
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she → say → Bluewater
Ms Hasling said Eric had been raised as a pet so was likely more friendly than non-domesticated emus.
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Eric → say → emus
In a statement, the council said local laws did not prohibit someone keeping an emu on blocks larger than 2,000 square metres, as long as applicable laws were met, including an adequate enclosure.
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laws → say → enclosure
"I don't think Eric will be aggressive," Ms Hasling said.
asserted
Hasling → think → ?
She said if an emu displayed threatening behaviour, the advice was to back away slowly and give it as much space as possible.
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advice → say → space
She said hold up a rake or a stick to appear taller and try put something, like a tree, between yourself and the bird.
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She → say → yourself
"Yep, that is definitely frustrating," Ms Hasling said.
asserted
Hasling → say → ?
With no-one taking action, Mr Richards continues to be followed around by someone else's pet emu.
asserted
Richards → take → emu
The Aporia