Veterinarian Dr Manoj Kumar usually treats camels, but this week the north-Indian vet has instead found himself nursing one half of Australia’s coat of arms.

An emu turned up at the animal refuge Help the Suffering where he works in Jaipur, northern India.

“The animal had swelling in its left leg, for that we gave it an anti-inflammatory injection,” Dr Kumar said.

“There was a little bit of a fungal infection on one of its wings and some dermatitis, which we are treating with topical medication.

“Everything else seems normal, including its diet. It’s just the swelling that is taking a bit of time.”

In an observation unlikely to surprise many Australians, Dr Kumar described the animal as “not very co-operative”.

“Its temperament is okay,” he said.

“It seems a bit scared most of the time.”

Asked where the creature had come from, Dr Kumar said it was likely to have escaped or been released from one of several small emu farms in the surrounding semi-arid region.

None of the surrounding emu farms were missing an emu. Photo: Supplied

In 2012, the Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences began an emu breeding program, in an effort to give local farmers an option to diversify.

Despite strong initial interest in rearing the birds for meat and oil production, the industry has reportedly struggled to gain traction.

Several emu farms contacted by the ABC said none of their birds were missing.

Veterinarian Dr Kumar said he was not sure what to do with the animal.

“For now, its treatment will continue for some time,” he said.

“It is only then that we will see if we should release it back out or relocate it. We really have no idea.”

-ABC