Southern Cassowary (7/20)

CASUARIIFORMES: Casuariidae

Casuarius casuarius  

Be wary of the Cassowary! There was only a car between me and this male.

I pulled up in my car at the car park at The Crater and got out just as this male came suddenly out of the rainforest. He came straight for me and I quickly moved around to the other side of the car. I would not like to be this close without something solid between me and its big pointy toe!!

The reason for its aggression became quickly obvious as two immature chicks came out of the forest behind it. The male looks after the chicks and he was declaring his dominance in the territory. Once that was communicated the birds wandered around the car park and were joined by another adult bird. It was exciting.