Close Call with Cassowaries

An Australian mother and her son had a near-miss encounter with two ravenous cassowaries, as reported by wildlife officials.

Security footage from South Mission Beach captured the duo on May 9th while they were returning home and spotted the birds.

The son takes off running, with his mother just ahead, holding the door open to let him quickly inside. Following suit, she closes the door right after he gets in.

“Fortunately, both were able to get inside safely. However, it’s important to remember to not interfere with wildlife,” said Wildlife Ranger Jeff Lewis in a statement.

Cassowaries can be quite dangerous, armed with powerful kicks delivered by their sharp-clawed feet.

“They’re most active at twilight, have claws that could rival those of Freddy Krueger, and are among the few bird species known to have killed humans,” as noted by the World Wildlife Fund.

“That said, don’t view these flightless emu relatives as purely threatening. In reality, cassowaries are usually shy and play a critical role in tropical forest ecosystems.”

Experts indicated that the cassowaries are part of a parent-child pair—an established father and son—and are often fed by humans. When this habitual feeding occurs, the birds can start to expect it and even become aggressive while seeking more food.

For this reason, the relevant sectors are urging residents near these potentially dangerous birds to avoid feeding them. Feeding can modify their behavior, presenting risks to both humans and vulnerable bird species.

“This incident is just one of several cassowary encounters linked to illegal feeding,” Lewis continued. “When cassowaries begin to associate humans with food, they can become impatient and aggressive, particularly if they have chicks with them.”

A notable incident involved an elderly man who sustained a serious cut on his leg after a cassowary approached him while searching for food. Luckily, his injury wasn’t worse.

“These situations highlight the real dangers of feeding wildlife,” added Lewis.

In response, the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science, and Innovation has launched a public education campaign about the risks connected to feeding these formidable birds, titled: “Be-cass-o-wary.”

The campaign advises against stopping your vehicle to observe cassowaries on the road, and warns against getting too close to a chick and its protective father.