Is considered “most dangerous bird in the world” if provoked, a cassowary (Casuarius casuarius jonhsonii) was seen bathing alone on the beach Australia. The rare moment was announced on the social networks of the Queensland National Park this Thursday (16).
The presence of the bird in the sea of the Bay of Bengal caused surprise on the Internet. “I’ve never seen her swimming in the sea before,” commented one TikTok user on the Brisbane Times website, who shared a video of the animal bathing in the sea. “I didn’t know they floated,” said another user. “How far can they swim?” asked another.
According to a post from Queensland National Park, people who saw the birdbath thought it was a turtle. Others thought they saw the dorsal fin of a shark. However, a hostess at a local campground was the one who identified the bird and contacted the Parks and Wildlife Service. “I was waiting for the cassowary to emerge from the sea. He must have been exhausted as he lay in the shade under a tree with shaking legs for about half an hour,” she said.
For Stephen, the local wildlife officer, the host’s observation is “a great reminder that we must all do what we can to protect and conserve this endangered species.” “If you come across sick or injured cassowaries or other wildlife “Please report this to our officers,” Queensland Parks managers urge.
After resting under the tree, the cassowary calmly returned to the rainforest.
Bird behavior can be unpredictable
According to the magazine Galileu, the behavior of the southern cassowary is unpredictable. However, you must be careful as these birds can cause serious injuries to humans and other animals if provoked or irritated.
The Queensland Department of Environment and Science recommends never approaching cassowaries or their babies. Additionally, the agency recommends reducing speed when driving in these birds’ territory, but never stopping your vehicle to see them.
Cassowaries are native to northern Australia, New Guinea and neighboring islands. The largest can be up to 1.8 meters long and weigh up to 72.5 kilos. They cannot fly, but can reach speeds of up to 50 km/h in the forest. They can also jump high and perform powerful kicks and use their sharp claws, which are up to 10 cm long, to fend off any threat.