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The cassowary is a large, flightless bird native to the New Guinea forests, the Moluccas, and Northeastern Australia. It looks a little bit like an emu, but much more intimidating.
The second heaviest bird in the world after its cousin the ostrich, the jet-black cassowary is fearsome. Indeed, the species has a reputation for being the only animal that scares Australians.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.
If you have ever been to Australia, or even met an Australian away from their home turf, you’ll know they have a reputation for being tough.
Indeed, when you come from a country that is home to a vast array of dangerous animals, it is easy to understand why you would develop a thick skin.
There is one exception to the Aussie fearlessness of wildlife, however, and that’s the cassowary.
The cassowary is a large, flightless bird that has a particularly striking appearance. The endangered species mostly keeps to itself, deep within the rainforest.
In general, cassowaries are more scared of humans than humans are scared of them. However, they will do you harm if you try to cross them.
One of the reasons that so many people are scared of cassowaries is because of their creepy appearance.
Among the world’s largest birds, the cassowary is as tall as a human and can weigh up to 140 pounds (64 kilograms).
The emu-like bird has glossy black feathers, piercing eyes, and a dagger-like claw on each foot.
They walk upright on their two legs and will give any human a run for their money in a running race.
To quote Andrew Mack, who spent five years studying this bird in the wilds of Papua New Guinea, "they look like living dinosaurs."
Cassowaries may be scary, but they are also an interesting species for various reasons.
As previously mentioned, cassowaries are endangered. As a result, they tend to dwell deep in the rainforest, where they are less likely to encounter humans.
In their rainforest dwellings, cassowaries play an important role in maintaining the ecosystem.
The cassowary is the planet’s largest frugivore (fruit eater). It eats and digests dozens of fruits every day.
By pooping out those fruits, this dinosaur-like bird helps to spread the seeds of the fruits and regrow them throughout the forest.
Cassowaries are also interesting for another reason: it is the males that do most of the infant care.
In the animal kingdom, there are only a handful of species where the males look after the babies.
In the case of the cassowary, the females lay the eggs and then flee the nest, leaving the males to incubate the eggs and raise the chicks.
Just like many other species in the animal kingdom, cassowaries are fiercely protective of their young.
Indeed, some of the only non-food-related incidents involving humans and cassowaries occurred because someone came too close to the cassowary's chicks.
So, what should you do if you do encounter a cassowary? The first thing that experts recommend is to put your hands behind your back.
Try and be as boring as possible, so as not to attract their attention. If there is a tree nearby, try to blend in with it.
Although it may be tempting to try and run from an approaching cassowary, this tends to be counterproductive.
As previously mentioned, cassowaries are fast runners, just like their cousins—emus and ostriches. In most cases they will be able to catch up with you.
If you have food with you when you encounter a cassowary, it is best to keep it on your person, but hidden out of sight.
According to experts, feeding a cassowary may change their behavior and make them become bold and aggressive.
Indeed, according to a 2001 study in the Journal of Zoology, humans feeding cassowaries was the cause of 75% of dangerous encounters between the two species.
In 2024, a video of a woman trying to keep her McDonald’s out of the clutches of a greedy cassowary went viral.
It sparked a conversation as to whether the woman had reacted in the right way upon encountering the formidable bird.
According to the cassowary experts, she did exactly the right thing in trying to keep her food for herself.
Sources: (CNN) (San Diego Zoo)
See also: Essential tips for exploring the Australian outback
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The only animal that scares Australians
LIFESTYLE Animal
The cassowary is a large, flightless bird native to the New Guinea forests, the Moluccas, and Northeastern Australia. It looks a little bit like an emu, but much more intimidating.
The second heaviest bird in the world after its cousin the ostrich, the jet-black cassowary is fearsome. Indeed, the species has a reputation for being the only animal that scares Australians.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.