Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter for the latest updates on destinations, aviation, and more. Australians are known for their resilience and courage, living alongside deadly creatures like snakes, spiders, and the infamous drop bear. However, there is one creature that strikes fear into their hearts—a bird unlike any other.
The cassowary, a massive bird resembling a prehistoric relic, stands as tall as a person, with glossy black feathers and sharp eyes. Weighing up to 140 pounds, it sports dagger-like claws on its feet, making it a formidable presence. Andrew Mack, who studied cassowaries in Papua New Guinea, describes them as “living dinosaurs,” evoking a primal fear.
Flightless and dubbed “the world’s most dangerous bird,” cassowaries play a vital role in the rainforest ecosystem by consuming fruits and aiding in seed dispersal. Despite their intimidating appearance, they are crucial for forest regeneration. Male cassowaries take on the responsibility of caring for their young, showcasing a rare nurturing behavior among animals.
Encountering a cassowary in the wild requires caution. Peter Rowles of the Community for Coastal & Cassowary Conservation advises being unassuming and avoiding any sudden movements or noises. In the event of an encounter, it’s crucial to remain calm and not provoke the bird. Running or dropping food can escalate the situation, as cassowaries are swift runners capable of chasing down humans.
Educating oneself on the behavior of these magnificent yet fearsome birds is essential to coexisting peacefully with them in their natural habitat. By respecting the cassowary’s space and understanding their importance in the ecosystem, humans can avoid unnecessary conflicts and appreciate these unique creatures from a safe distance.
A viral video showing a woman who refused to share her Big Mac sparked a debate on whether she was in the right. A 2001 study published in the Journal of Zoology pointed out that human feeding of cassowaries is responsible for 75% of dangerous interactions between humans and these birds. The study’s author, Christopher P. Kofron, noted that feeding cassowaries alters their natural behavior, making them more bold and aggressive. In a tragic incident, a cassowary fatally attacked a person who was attempting to harm it.
In Papua New Guinea, cassowaries are not considered a protected species, and locals sometimes hunt and consume them. The cassowaries found in this region are of the smaller dwarf species. To avoid encounters with cassowaries in tropical Queensland, it is recommended to steer clear of black or dark blue cars as cassowaries have been known to mistake their reflections in such vehicles for rival birds. Additionally, cassowaries have exhibited similar reactions towards mirrors and glazed windows, prompting residents in Mission Beach to install screens to prevent glare-related incidents.
When C4 was established, a male cassowary statue was installed outside the office, attracting the attention of a female cassowary who attempted to court the statue. When her advances were rebuffed, she interpreted it as a threat to her territory and proceeded to aggressively attack the fiberglass statue, causing significant damage. The statue has since been repaired and relocated to a more secure area within the C4 office.
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