Here’s 5 facts about this flightless bird that will blow your feathers off!
A fruitarian feast
Cassowaries LOVE to feast on fruit.
They’re known to eat over 150 different fruits, but on occasion may also snack on bugs, fungi, or even small mammals.
One of the wackiest things about their diet is that they often swallow their food whole!
Their digestive system breaks down the fruit after they’ve gulped it down, and then their big seed-filled droppings help to regenerate more plants!
Stealthy giants
Move over Big Bird! Cassowaries are the third largest bird in the world, right behind ostriches and emus.
These big beauties can grow over 6 feet tall and weigh more than 70 kilos!
But despite their size, cassowaries are surprisingly stealthy, and prefer to hang out in the shadows of the rainforest.
Claw-some toes
Cassowaries have an impressive middle toe, with a 5-inch claw that they use to defend themselves when feeling threatened.
While they are more shy than aggressive, it’s best not to ruffle the feathers of these majestic creatures!
Ready, steady – go!
Cassowaries are seriously athletic.
They can swim expertly through rivers, leap over obstacles like it’s an Olympic event, and run through the forest at up to 50km an hour!
If there was a rainforest decathlon, we think Cassowaries have a shot at the title.
Dino-mite
Cassowaries are one of the closest living species to dinosaurs.
The large wedge shaped ‘helmet’ on their head, known as a casque, is their most dinosaur-like feature.
While we don’t know the exact reason for their casque, it’s believed it could protect their head as they butt their way through dense trees, help them to assert dominance, or even act like an antenna to pick up vibrations from other creatures in the forest!
Whether you admire their shimmering blue skin, athletic ability, or their extraordinary food gulping talent, one thing is for sure – there’s no creature quite like a Cassowary!
Sadly, wild cassowary numbers are declining, impacted by habitat destruction and cyclones.
Protecting these magnificent birds is essential – not only because they’re amazing, but because they play a crucial role in regenerating tropical forests by spreading seeds.
On World Cassowary Day, let’s celebrate this special species so they can thrive and keep our ecosystems healthy for generations to come.
You can
visit our two charming cassowaries, Maardja and Malak, right across from our Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo habitat.