An emu named Emmanuel has become one of TikTok's most beloved birds as his owner, Taylor Blake, posts videos of the animal's sassy behavior. But a deadly wave of avian flu has hit Blake's Knuckle Bump Farms, and now, Emmanuel is fighting for his life as one of two bird survivors.
Blake announced on Saturday that the farm in was hit with a deadly bout of avian flu, saying that they have had a problem with wild Egyptian Geese flying onto the farm. At one point, there were as many as 50 of the wild geese on the South Florida farm, she said, and they carried the virus to her animals.
"We lost 99% of the birds on our farm," Blake tweeted. "…We lost 50+ birds in 3 days."
The avian flu, otherwise known as the bird flu, has been making its way through Florida since it was detected in Palm Beach County in January, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed. Black vultures have been the animals most impacted by the virus since that time, the department said, although a deceased bottlenose dolphin also tested positive.
The department said it's suspecting an increase in infected species this fall.
I am trying my best to remain hopeful, tap into my unwavering faith, and trust that God is in control. I am also doing my best to remain thankful in the face of loss, for I have so much to be grateful for❤️ Thank you for reading. pic.twitter.com/z0ozJ1yWCO
— eco sister (@hiitaylorblake) October 15, 2022
"I cannot even begin to express the guttural feeling of watching innocent animals die. Daily. Innocent animals that did NOT deserve to die," Blake said. "It's even harder to swallow the fact that we did nothing wrong, it was not our fault, and there's nothing we could've done to prevent it."
Among the birds that died are Emmanuel's fellow TikTok stars, Emily, Eliza and Elliott. Blake said the farm also lost "every single chicken and duck," as well as all of their geese, both turkeys and two female black swans. The only birds left are Emmanuel and Rico, a swan.
@knucklebumpfarms Some things never change. #emmanuel #emmanueldontdoit #emmanueltheemu ♬ original sound – Knuckle Bump Farms
Initially, Blake thought Emmanuel had made it through unscathed but said that last Wednesday, he got sick. He soon stopped eating and drinking on his own. He also suffered nerve damage in his right leg and foot, prompting Blake and her girlfriend Kristian Haggerty to build him a sling for physical therapy to help him regain function.
The situation has been "traumatizing," Blake said, but on Sunday, there came a moment of hope: Emmanuel drank water by himself for the first time since becoming sick.
EMMANUEL JUST DRANK WATER BY HIMSELF FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE BECOMING ILL😭🥹 Please keep the prayers coming! pic.twitter.com/nieSFKtkFB
— eco sister (@hiitaylorblake) October 16, 2022
He has also been able to reposition himself in his sling, putting pressure on his right foot and even taking backward steps, Blake tweeted on Sunday.
"At this point, every small step feels like a milestone," she said. "…He is getting stronger, daily."
Chelsea Manning on new book, her decision to leak classified documents
Rape survivor's DNA is turned against her
Early voting begins in Georgia; voters react to first and only Senate debate
"I will do anything and go into any amount of debt to save his life," his owner, Taylor Blake, said
Knuckle Bump Farms reportedly lost 99% of its birds over three days after a flock of wild geese carrying the disease landed on the property.
"Please keep the prayers coming!" wrote Taylor Blake, owner of the TikTok-famous emu Emmanuel, announcing that he's able to drink water on his own recovering from avian flu
His caretaker says nearly every single bird has died at Knuckle Bump Farms
Emma made a splash — no pun intended — at the film's premiere, while the film's other star Harry Styles was nowhere to be found.View Entire Post ›
(Bloomberg) — President Xi Jinping had a clear message to those who want to thwart China’s rise: You will fail. Most Read from BloombergRussia Hits Ukrainian Capital Kyiv With Kamikaze DronesStocks Snap Back After Selloff With UK’s Reversal: Markets WrapThe Time to Buy the Dip Is Fast Approaching — for One CountryNATO-China Tension Over Ukraine Flares at Conference in IcelandIn a speech running almost two hours on Sunday, Xi let the world know that China wouldn’t change course even as it faces
How many whales die each year? It's more than 80 in this stretch of Pacific Ocean where freight ships wreak havoc on the whale population.
The right-wing hate account Libs of TikTok targeted a nonprofit animal shelter because it hosted a drag queen story hour.
Get festive with your food this Halloween with this easy meatball and marinara appetizer. Food creator and recipe developer Diane Morrisey shared her recipe for the simple dish, which uses frozen puff pastry and other easy, affordable ingredients. "Making easy to assemble recipes, just like this meatball mummy, that are sure to bring a smile to peoples faces is absolutely going to be the highlight of your Halloween night," she added.
If you want to be successful at managing money, you need to have some financial goals. Unfortunately, finance expert Dave Ramsey believes you may be making a big mistake that prevents you from achieving them. Ramsey has said that this error is "like climbing a mountain with weights tied around your ankles."
Ghislaine Maxwell has given one of her first interviews from prison, claiming that a fellow inmate plotted to kill her while she slept.
Queen Elizabeth died at the age of 96 in September. She was celebrated for her efforts to modernize the monarchy, a centuries-old institution.
Sugar and artificial sweeteners comes in many shapes and colors. New Africa/Shutterstock.comWandering through the grocery store, it is easy to be overwhelmed by the numerous brands and health claims on the dozens of sugar substitutes. It can be particularly confusing for those with diabetes or pre-diabetes who must keep their blood sugar in check and control their weight. With the growing diabetes and obesity epidemic, there has been increasing awareness around the use of added sugars in foods.
It made it through the rain — as well as the punishing wind, terrifying floods and catastrophic storm surge.
Julia Roberts and George Clooney sat down with FOX 5's Kevin McCarthy to talk all about their new film "Ticket to Paradise" and shared some of their favorite childhood movie memories.
Ninety-two migrants were found almost naked and bruised after allegedly being forced across the Evros river from Turkey into Greece, Athens said on Sunday.
Florida suspended tolls on several highways and roads because of Hurricane Ian. The goal was to speed evacuation and emergency response.
And the first words from Midnights are…
This is why Teslas have such a bad reputation…
The Seattle Seahawks played a complete game on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, finding success on both sides of the football.