MARI'S TRAVELS WITH HER CAMERA

The Cassowarry!

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Featured image credit: andyasskwoo from Pixabay

It’s one of those OMG moments when something I’d been told about but could scarcely believe, actually happened.

I wrote about the Australian Cassowarry in a post a few months ago and now today I read that the bird has actually killed someone.

Image by Anja Schröder from Pixabay

The cassowary, a large, flightless bird native to Australia and PNG, kept as a breeding bird, had attacked and killed its Florida owner on his own property in Gaineville, Alachua County, when he fell last Friday. It is thought the bird killed his victim using its long 10cm. dagger-like claws.

Cassowaries can be 1.8 metres (6 ft.) tall and the website of the San Diego Zoo describes them as the worlds most dangerous birds and says that it can slice open any predator with a single swift kick.

So, our Australian guide wasn’t just winding me up when he told me about them. Sorry, I misjudged you, Ray!

Comments

6 responses to “The Cassowarry!”

  1. SilverTiger Avatar
    SilverTiger

    The last actual human death before the one you report appears to have been in 1926. Nonetheless, these birds are clearly dangerous (“the most dangerous bird in the world”, according to some experts) and there have been many injuries, short of death, over the years. It seems too that cassowaries are liable to attack people without any obvious provocation. The damage is done mainly using the long, clawed middle toe, described as “dagger-like”.

    Don’t expect to see a Cassowary in the role of Big Bird on Sesame Street any time soon!

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  2. wanderessence1025 Avatar
    wanderessence1025

    Oh my gosh, that is one scary-looking bird. How awful it killed its owner.

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  3. Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter Avatar
    Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter

    I read that too. They certainly look terrifying!

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  4. maristravels Avatar
    maristravels

    I can’t claim credit for the photograph, I got it from Pixabay and I’ve just noticed that the credit hasn’t appeared with it. I shall rectify that straightaway.;

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  5. Marie Avatar
    Marie

    The top photo is wonderful. The colors are so beautiful but you can see the danger in his eyes.

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  6. travelrat Avatar
    travelrat

    Indeed! The late Steve Irwin mentioned on one of his programmes that this bird should be approached with extreme caution for this very reason,

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