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SOUTHERN CASSOWARY
SOUTHERN CASSOWARY covered by rainforests). · There are two other cassowary species in New Guinea. · It lives to about 50 years of age.· Despite being a bird, the Cassowary is Australias largest land animal. · It normally weighs about 60kg, but the heaviest recorded was 83kg. ·
Its eggs are the third largest of all birds at an average 584g (after the
Ostrich eggs ·
Even though it is large and colourful, it can be hard to see in the rainforest.
At close ·
It has powerful legs and if provoked may kick in defence. The sharp nails on
its inner ·
Unable to fly, all it has is the vestigial remains of wings. These have 3-5
large ·
Its hard casque or helmet comprises a central cartilage core and an outer tough ·
The Cassowary is an endangered species, with estimates of only 1500
remaining. ·
Its extinction could affect rainforest plant diversity as it helps spread the
seeds of up ·
Its short digestive system allows it to eat the fruits of poisonous
plants by eliminating ·
Other animals such as the Musky Rat Kangaroo often include part-digested fruit Breeding ·
The only time the Cassowary is not solitary is during the breeding season. At other ·
A female often lay eggs in more than one male's nest, but then leaves the family · 4 or 5 blue-green eggs are laid from May/June to October/November. ·
The chicks are striped until they are about 6-9 months old and become a
glossy Additional Information · 'Henry' was a well-known Cassowary living in the Lake Barrine region. He was bornin November 1989 in the Gadgarra State Forest a short distance to the east. Being constantly surrounded by humans since his birth, he was easily approachable (unlike other cassowaries). · In his youth he was a regular visitor to the clearing at Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodge ·
'Henry' had the advantage of easily finding food (given to him by his many
visitors) ·
His residence at Lake Barrine was a tourist drawcard but caused several Some Ways to Help ·
Its best not to stop if you see a Cassowary on the road, but to slow down
instead. ·
Do not feed a Cassowary as this reinforces its interest in people and contributes
to ·
When driving near a Cassowary, move away quickly so the bird will become · Keep car doors and windows closed to exclude cassowaries. · Please inform others of these suggestions. |
Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges |