Australians are known for their toughness and bravery—living in a country filled with some of the deadliest creatures, from venomous snakes and spiders to the mythical drop bear, takes a certain kind of resilience. But even the hardiest of Aussies might be shaken by the appearance of one particular bird.
This isn’t just any bird—it’s the cassowary. One of the largest bird species in the world, it stands as tall as a person and has striking black feathers, intense eyes, and a large, dagger-like claw on each foot. Weighing up to 140 pounds and walking on two feet, the cassowary is often described as a living relic from prehistoric times.
“There’s just something primal about them,” says Andrew Mack, who spent five years observing cassowaries in the wilds of Papua New Guinea. “They look like living dinosaurs.”
As a flightless ratite, the cassowary has earned the infamous title of “the world’s most dangerous bird.” Unlike its more famous cousin, the emu, which is one of Australia's national symbols, the cassowary prefers the isolation of dense rainforests, where human encounters are rare. Despite its fearsome reputation, the cassowary is now an endangered species.
Apart from its imposing appearance, the cassowary plays a crucial role in the rainforest ecosystem. As the planet's largest frugivore, it consumes and digests a variety of fruits, dispersing seeds through its droppings, and aiding in the regeneration of the forest.
What’s also unique about cassowaries is their reproductive behavior. The males take on the majority of parenting duties—incubating the eggs and raising the chicks after the females lay their eggs and move on. The males are fiercely protective of their young, and rare human-cassowary encounters often occur when someone gets too close to their chicks.
How to be ‘cass-o-wary’
A viral video from last year showed a woman in Queensland trying to keep her McDonald's burger away from a hungry cassowary. While these birds look intimidating, Peter Rowles, founder of the Community for Coastal & Cassowary Conservation (C4), reminds us, “Many more cassowaries die from humans than humans die from cassowaries.”
If you come across a cassowary in the wild, Rowles advises, “Put your hands behind your back, stay calm, and try not to draw attention to yourself. Move behind a tree, blend in, and hide your food. Being boring and non-threatening is the best way to avoid trouble.”
Running away in a panic is actually a bad idea—cassowaries are fast and can outrun a human. And while you might be tempted to drop your food and flee, experts suggest that the woman in the viral video who kept her Big Mac close was actually doing the right thing. A 2001 study in the Journal of Zoology found that feeding cassowaries is the leading cause of dangerous encounters, as it makes the birds bolder and more aggressive.
In Papua New Guinea, where cassowaries aren’t protected, locals may even hunt and eat the smaller, dwarf variety of cassowary.
Rowles also advises avoiding dark-colored cars, especially black or dark blue ones, as cassowaries sometimes mistake their reflections for rival birds. Similarly, they may react aggressively to mirrors or shiny surfaces, prompting Mission Beach locals to install screens to block reflective surfaces.
In the early days of C4, the team placed a statue of a male cassowary outside their office. A female cassowary, seemingly seeking a mate, approached and was none too pleased when the statue didn’t reciprocate. She “kicked” the fiberglass cassowary, puncturing its chest in the process. The repaired statue now resides safely indoors, a reminder of the cassowary's strong will and determination.
Meanwhile: Pope Francis remains in critical condition as he battles pneumonia in both lungs, with blood tests showing mild signs of kidney failure, which is currently under control, the Vatican reported on Sunday. The 88-year-old pontiff, who was hospitalized over a week ago, has not experienced any further respiratory crises since Saturday evening.
The Vatican added that Francis, though facing mild renal failure, remains "vigilant and well-oriented." He was first admitted to a clinic in Rome ten days ago after being diagnosed with pneumonia following tests for a respiratory tract infection.
Around the world, faith leaders and worshippers have gathered to pray for the pope. His schedule has been largely cleared due to his intensive medical treatment. On Sunday morning, Francis participated in the Holy Mass from his hospital apartment on the 10th floor of the Gemelli hospital, where the medical staff caring for him also took part. Read more here......
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