Last Emu Confiscated
In 2023, the Lithuanian radio station ZIP FM gifted three emu chicks to Petras Šiaučūnas, a local farmer and social media personality. Now, authorities have confiscated the last of the birds from his farm, highlighting the complexities of owning exotic animals.
Šiaučūnas, known for his online presence, had taken in the emus after they hatched at the radio station’s studio. The station’s team approached him since they followed his life online and thought he’d be a suitable owner for the three young birds. For three years, the emu lived on Šiaučūnas’s property, but on March 6, 2026, the Lithuanian Environmental Protection Department (AAD) seized the animal.
Šiaučūnas shared the situation on social media, stating, “We’ve been held hostage by this system. We raised a ZIP FM-hatched and gifted emu for three years. I didn’t hide it, I showed it publicly. All the inspections knew it was here, but only after an anonymous tip that Petras was raising an emu did things move. And apparently, Petras doesn’t have acquisition documents for the emu, nor a permit to preserve a wild animal. The animal is being confiscated, and a fine will be issued during the trial.”
No One Followed Up in Time
Šiaučūnas told the Lithuanian news portal Rokiškio Sirena that the AAD was already aware of the emu’s presence on his farm, as several media outlets reported on the radio station’s delivery of the birds in 2023. He also noted that two of the emus died shortly after arriving at his property, leaving only one remaining.
“Even as they (agency representatives) were watching my videos, no one felt the demand to inquire or inquire. But when ‘patriotic citizens’ took offense, they came to punish me immediately. In reality, no one even thought about obtaining any permits or documents during this time. And I didn’t think about it either: I received them (the emus) as a gift, and if you can hatch eggs you buy at the market, where do acquisition documents come from? People usually say what should have been done ‘this or that’ after the fact,” Šiaučūnas lamented.
According to Šiaučūnas, the only issue identified by AAD specialists was the lack of a pool for the wild animal. He believed he could potentially obtain a permit to keep the bird, though he doubted it would be possible without acquisition documents. As of now, the emu remains confiscated pending a decision from the agency.
Situation is Not Great
The AAD confirmed to Rokiškio Sirena that they acted on information discovered in the public domain. “On March 4, 2026, the Environmental Protection Department initiated an investigation after evaluating the published information. On March 6, officials conducted a site inspection and documented the findings, as well as obtaining a written statement from the animal’s owner,” the department stated.
– What violations were recorded? Was the animal kept in improper conditions or was it sick?
“During the inspection, it was determined that the individual was keeping an emu without a permit issued by the Environmental Protection Agency to keep wild animals in captivity. The animal was examined by veterinary specialists and is currently under the care of the Wildlife Rescue Center at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. For information about the animal’s condition, we recommend contacting the center.”
– What does the owner say?
“The individual claims the emu was gifted to him, but did not provide any concrete evidence or other proof to support this claim.”
– What is the fate of the bird – will it be confiscated and where will it go?
“Since the individual did not provide documents confirming the legal acquisition of the animal, the emu has been seized. The decision on confiscating the animal will be made when ruling on the administrative offense case. As previously mentioned, the bird is currently being cared for by the LSMU Wildlife Rescue Center.”
– What awaits the farmer: has a fine been issued yet?
“A protocol has been drawn up against the individual for violating Part 7 of Article 303 of the Lithuanian Code of Administrative Offenses – for keeping a wild animal without a permit and without providing documents confirming its legal acquisition. This offense carries a fine of 500 to 2,050 euros for individuals.”
The Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Wildlife Rescue Center provided further details on the emu’s condition. Center director Justina Morkūnaitė stated the bird arrived with skin inflammation, deep bleeding wounds in the neck area, superficial wounds on its sides, back, abdomen, and legs, as well as feather loss on its lower body and back. The center is currently administering antibiotics and conducting bacterial tests to determine the cause of the health issues. The length of treatment remains uncertain.
“Such health problems can be caused by several factors: bacterial infection, improper nutrition, behavioral disorders when the animal plucks its own feathers, burns, or injuries from other animals. The exact cause is currently unknown,” Morkūnaitė explained. She emphasized the importance of providing adequate space, a suitable climate, opportunities for movement, and a balanced diet for emus, as well as monitoring their behavior and addressing any stressors.
