Zookeepers at a New South Wales wildlife park had to think a little creatively about what to do to nurture two orphaned emu chicks after their father refused to raise them.

The two chicks that hatched from the clutch of seven eggs laid at Symbio Wildlife Park at Helensburgh, south of Sydney, were affectionately named Muffin and Socks after characters in the popular children's TV show Bluey.

"Whilst female emus lay eggs over consecutive days, once she's finished, she'll move off and the male takes over laying on all the eggs so they start incubating at the same time," zookeeper Dan Rumsey said.

"Dad doesn't move for about 60 days, not even eating — he's defending the eggs and obviously maintaining the optimal temperature for them.

"Generally, once they start hatching and emerging, they

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