Australia Hotel Bans Local Emus After They Learn to Climb Stairs

The Yaraka Hotel in Queensland, Australia, has banned two unruly regulars from its property—a decision complicated by the fact that the guests in question are a pair of hungry emus. As CNN Travel reports, the bird siblings, named Kevin and Carol, have had their visitor privileges revoked following a pattern of bad behavior.

Yaraka township, where the hotel operates, is home to vibrant wildlife, including the second-largest living bird species on Earth. Despite their intimidating size, Kevin and Carol were once a welcome presence at the Yaraka Hotel. They would stop by occasionally for snacks and entertain guests staying at the hotel's rooms and campsites. But the birds were also known to push their boundaries by raiding picnics and sneaking into the hotel bar. The hotel's owners finally decided to take a stand after the emus learned to climb stairs.

Yaraka Hotel co-owner Chris Gimblett told CNN Travel that emus are "a bit like a vacuum cleaner where food is concerned." To prevent aggressive behavior toward guests in the upstairs dining room, the hotel installed a chain rope at the top of the steps that prevents the birds from entering. The sign that goes with it reads: "Emus have been banned from this establishment for bad behavior. Please let yourself through the emu barrier and then reconnect."

Birds may not be the first thing that comes to mind when listing Australia's most dangerous creatures, but the continent is home to plenty of vicious avian species. In addition to emus, Australia also has cassowaries, which have been called the most dangerous birds in the world. They defend themselves with a 5-inch claw on each foot, and at least two people have been kicked to death by the birds.