Southern Cassowary | (Casuarius casuarius) | ® VCG Photo
Both the Commonwealth and Queensland governments recognise this bird as endangered.
.As tall as a person, with a high helmet on its head, a vivid blue neck and long drooping red wattles—the southern cassowary is found only in the tropical rainforests of north-east Queensland.
The southern cassowary is Australia’s heaviest flightless bird, but the emu is taller.
The southern cassowary is an important rainforest gardener, spreading the seeds of rainforest trees. Sometimes the seeds are so large that no other animal can swallow and disperse them.
A number of factors affect southern cassowary survival. The major threats include the loss, fragmentation and modification of habitat, vehicle strikes, dog attacks, human interactions, pigs, disease and natural catastrophic events.
Scientists estimate that there might be only 1,200 – 1,500 of these birds in Australia.
Your donation
Mitigating threats – act to control foxes, goats, rabbits and wild dogs on their property., to protect from stock damage and to allow for natural regeneration. (Southern Australia, NSW)
Mitigating threats – supporting organisations to deliver large landscape-scale habitat and restoration projects. Ensure pet dogs and cats do not roam in rock-wallaby habitat. (Southern Australia, NSW)
Mitigating threats – reducing the impact of wildfire and prescribed burns on food productivity, Increase the area of Wallaby’s feeding habitat by retaining native vegetation, undertaking weed c
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