TikTok famous emu Emmanuel struggles with avian flu
South Florida - The emu named Emmanuel that pecked his way to internet fame is now fighting for his life after contracting avian flu.
Late Saturday night, Taylor Blake of Knuckle Bump Farms in South Florida took to her Twitter account to share some horrible news about a "massive tragedy" that has struck the farm's animals.
In a string of tweets, the content creator and farmworker shared that the farm lost more than 50 of their birds to avian flu in the last three days.
The only birds left are Emmanuel the emu and Rico the swan.
"We thought we were out of the woods, when Emmanuel unexpectedly went down this past Wednesday," she wrote.
Emmanuel became internet famous over the summer for his constant interrupting Taylor's educational clips by attacking her phone, while Taylor cried, "Emmanuel, don't do it!"
A compilation video of her scolding of the big bird went viral in July. The duo was so popular that that Taylor and a puppet version of Emmanuel were guests on Jimmy Kimmel’s The Tonight Show, and Knuckle Bump Farms began successfully selling merchandise with the emu’s face.
Now the bird is struggling to survive.
Emmanuel the emu is "fighter" and the internet is anxiously watching
Since falling ill on Wednesday, the big bird has refused to eat or drink. Taylor has been feeding him and giving him fluids. He suffered some nerve damage to his right foot after laying on his side overnight, so Taylor and her girlfriend made a sling for the animal's leg and are taking care of him around the clock.
Taylor says the 5-foot-8, 120-pound emu is a "fighter." She "wholeheartedly believe[s] he is going to make a full recovery."
In her latest video, which has been watched more than a million times, the animal appears responsive and looks at the camera while Taylor plants kisses on his head. Sunday morning, Taylor noted that the bird is "crushing his morning physical therapy!"
Hopefully, Emmanuel is on the mend. She thanked users for their support and asked for prayers, writing, "When you think of Emmanuel, think of him pecking the camera, frolicking through the pasture and leaning his head in for a kiss."
Taylor thinks wild geese who came to the farm at night may have brought the highly contagious, often deadly virus to the farm.
The influencer said she'd been in contact with Florida officials over the outbreak, and said the farm has "followed all protocols." Officials are said to believe standing floodwater after Hurricane Ian made the virus run rampant in the state. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the virus affects different types of birds differently, and there is no cure.
Taylor is hoping her farm's horrible loss will make people aware of the avian flu crisis that is ravaging bird populations across the US, especially domesticated birds and those in zoos.
The internet is holding their breath for Emmanuel to get well soon.
Cover photo: Collage: Screenshot/Instagram/knucklebumpfarms