People at Bingil Bay in Australia were surprised on Halloween when they saw something odd splashing in the water. At first, they thought it might be a shark or a turtle, but no surprisingly it turned out to be ‘world’s most dangerous bird‘ a young cassowary, known as one of the world’s most dangerous birds.
This unusual sighting of a cassowary swimming offshore was reported to Queensland’s Department of Environment and Science and became quite popular online.
Cassowaries are famous for their big and dangerous appearance. They are very tall with strong legs and sharp feet. Although they can be dangerous for humans. They usually avoid people unless they feel threatened.
“Cassowaries can swim and will take to the water to cross from one side of a river to the other, or if they feel threatened by domestic dogs or another cassowary through a territorial dispute.” –
Stephen Clough, wildlife officer from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
Wildlife officer Stephen Clough mentioned that cassowaries can swim across rivers or if they’re scared by other animals, like dogs, or during a fight over territory.
The cassowary seen in the water was about 656 feet away from the shore. After swimming, it seemed exhausted and stood beneath a tree for about half an hour.
Bingil Bay, in tropical north Queensland, is known as the ‘Cassowary Coast’ and holds significance for the cassowary, considered an important place by the area’s indigenous people.
Sadly, there are only around 4,000 cassowaries left in Queensland, and they are endangered due to accidents with vehicles and attacks by dogs.
Cassowaries are known to attack humans, mostly when people try to feed them, which they shouldn’t do. So, it’s best to keep a safe distance from these birds.
“I ran down and waited for the cassowary to emerge from the ocean, and it must’ve been exhausted as it stood in the shade beneath a tree with its legs shaking for about half an hour.” –
Nikita McDowell, Bingil Bay Campground host
Remember, if you ever encounter a cassowary, don’t try to approach it or feed it. Slowly move away and put something like a backpack between you and the bird for safety. And surprisingly, cassowaries can swim!
This bird, often considered one of the most dangerous, surprised beachgoers in Bingil Bay, Australia. It’s a cassowary, a large flightless bird similar to an ostrich or emu. Only the southern cassowary lives in Australia, mainly in Queensland’s rainforests.
“This rare sighting and lucky escape by the cassowary is a reminder that we all need to do what we can to protect and conserve the species.”
Stephen Clough, wildlife officer from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
The cassowary seen in Bingil Bay was reported to wildlife authorities on October 31. It’s rare to spot these birds as they usually keep to themselves. While they’re not usually aggressive, they can cause harm if provoked.
Cassowaries can’t fly but are strong swimmers. They’re crucial for spreading seeds of rainforest trees. Sadly, their population is endangered, so it’s vital to report any injured cassowaries to the authorities.
The footage of the cassowary swimming was astonishing to the wildlife officers, showing how remarkable these creatures can be.
