Words by Naomi Stephens
Which bird would be at home on the set of Jurassic Park, packs 120mm long daggers and has been known to kill humans?
Meet the Southern Cassowary, one of the world’s largest breeds of bird with a fearsome reputation. Their sheer size and distinctive horn or “casque” are reminiscent of dinosaurs, so it’s no wonder that they are considered to be more like their prehistoric ancestors than most other bird species.
Cassowaries are flightless, which is probably a good thing given they weigh between 50-76kgs and can grow up to 1.8m in height. They are the third tallest bird on the planet behind close relatives, the emu, and their more distant cousin, the ostrich.
Where you’ll find them
Southern Cassowaries are typically found in tropical rainforests and wetlands in north-eastern Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and neighbouring islands, and may also be found in mangrove areas or savannahs in these regions.
Solitary by nature, outside breeding season cassowaries generally keep out of each other’s way. Their diet consists mostly of fruit, but when in need of a protein hit they are not above chowing down on the odd small reptile or mammal, or carrion.
And their poo is something to behold (metaphorically, obviously). Unsurprisingly, given their size and diet, cassowaries produce large mounds of dung so it’s worth watching your step! Having said that, you’re not likely to miss it. As the birds tend to eat fruits whole, their dung is quite colourful. Females are known to range far further than males, and given their dung contains seeds from a wide variety of fruiting plants, they play an important role in maintaining the ecology of their habitat.
Are they dangerous to humans?
Cassowaries are shy birds, however as with most wild animals, they can be dangerous when threatened. They have large, three-toed feet, but the thing to watch out for is the dagger-like claw on each foot which measures up to 12cm in length. They can jump up to 2m, and kick out with their feet, deploying their dagger claws to defend themselves, often with great effect.
Attacks on humans are known to occur, usually when people attempt to interact with or feed them. I’m not sure what possesses people to seek to play with a wild bird that weighs 50-70kg and comes equipped with knives on its feet, but there you are.
Despite their reputation, the last recorded death in Australia occurred in 1926, when two young boys decided to attack a cassowary that was on their property. The bird defended itself, killing one of the boys in the process.
What to do if you see one
Due to declining habitat, cassowaries are becoming a more regular sight on beaches and around communities in north-eastern Australia, and are known to wander into people’s gardens in search of food. Conservationists advise against feeding them, and suggest ensuring rubbish is well secured to discourage foraging.
If you do happen to cross paths with one of these amazing birds, by all means grab your trusty digital SLR and snap away. But keep your distance. Don’t attempt interaction of any sort and absolutely do not attempt to give it food. If you do get too close, the bird will likely stand its ground, may also stretch itself upwards to appear taller, and give you a loud warning hiss. You’d be well advised to heed that warning, back away slowly and give it a wide berth. Don’t be tempted to run – cassowaries on the move can reach speeds of up to 50 kmph. To put that into perspective, when Usain Bolt set the world record for the 100m sprint, his average speed during the race was 37.58 kmph. Get the picture?
While the birds are more likely to avoid you, it’s best you don’t make yourself a target if they feel threatened.
Seeing such an incredible animal in its natural habitat is without a doubt a truly amazing experience. As with all wild animals, admire them from afar. It’s only when we get too close that their reputation becomes all too evident.
Fast facts
- Weight: males can reach up to 55kgs, females up to 76kgs.
- Plumage: large black feathers over the body, red wattles. The neck and head region are unfeathered, with turquoise and blue mottling around the face and neck, and red markings on the back of the neck.
- Behaviour: diurnal. Solitary and generally shy. Aggressive when threatened.
- Call: produces one of the lowest frequency calls of any bird species – so low as to be undetectable to human hearing. Also loud booming call, serving as a warning to other cassowaries to stay away, or to attract a mate during breeding season.
- Breeding: females are bigger and more dominant than males. The female produces between 3-5 green eggs, which the male then incubates, sticking around to then raise the chicks for about 9 months until fully grown.
- Diet: predominantly fungi and fruits foraged on the forest floor, but will eat snails, insects, small reptiles and mammals, and carrion.
- Lifespan: up to 40 years in the wild.
Photo credits
Images supplied are free for commercial use, including in print and digital publications. Attribution is not required under each library’s licence, but attribution text included below.
Images 1 – David Clode on Unsplash.
