The Kangaroo and the Emu hold the shield in the Australian coat of arms. Why?
Question #26545. Asked by Kevin Lamond.
starry
Answer has 2 votes
starry
Answer has 2 votes.
They are animals that only live in Australia.
Jan 16 2003, 2:17 PM
sequoianoir
Answer has 2 votes
sequoianoir 21 year member
2091 replies
Answer has 2 votes.
I wonder if all the kangaroos and emus all over the world realise that they are still actually living in Australia. Is it part of some master plan where Australia actually owns and rules the world?
Jan 16 2003, 2:30 PM
Andy
Answer has 3 votes
Currently Best Answer
Andy 25 year member
197 replies
Answer has 3 votes.
Currently voted the best answer.
Actually, these two animals are on Australia's coat of arms because they cannot walk backwards.
Jan 16 2003, 10:22 PM
Byrd
Answer has 2 votes
Byrd 24 year member
27 replies
Answer has 2 votes.
I believe what starry was trying to say is that emus and kangaroos are both native Australian fauna. Have you ever actually found that being a nit picking meanie has helped you in life at all?
Jan 16 2003, 11:25 PM
Baloo55th
Answer has 2 votes
Baloo55th 22 year member
4545 replies
Answer has 2 votes.
Picking nits is fun. Actually, they hold the shield 'cos it would fall down if they let go.
Jan 18 2003, 9:15 PM
Kainantu
Answer has 3 votes
Kainantu
Answer has 3 votes.
My suggestion to a government official who wrote an article on the coat of arms for the Australian Government:
The Australian coat of arms pictures two creatures--the emu, a flightless bird, and the kangaroo. The animals were chosen because they share a characteristic that appealed to the Australian citizens. Both the emu and kangaroo can move only forward, not back. The emu's three-toed foot causes it to fall if it tries to go backwards, and the kangaroo is prevented from moving in reverse by its large tail.
His reply by email:
This may be biologically true but I doubt if this is why they were chosen...
my bet is it is because they are large, conspicuous and distinctive elements of the Australian fauna and that they are of comparable size so would not look incongrouous as a pair of supporters...