New home security video footage showing a male cassowary and his chick following a mother and daughter as they entered their house in Queensland’s south Mission Beach, has sparked another warning for visitors to the area not to feed the giant birds.
The footage shows the child sprinting into the house as the mum quickly closes the screen door … with the cassowaries hot on their heels.
Wildlife Ranger Jeff Lewis said people feeding cassowaries changed their behaviour, creating significant risks for people and our iconic endangered birds.
“This incident is one of several cassowary interactions in the area which are linked to unlawful feeding,” Mr Lewis said. “Thankfully the mother and child were able to get inside to safety, but it’s an important reminder to not interfere with wildlife.”
Cassowary warning signs have been erected. PIC: DETSI
The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) says that, back in April, a man in his seventies was kicked in the leg by a cassowary which approached him expecting food. He was treated for a cut to his leg.
“These incidents are stark examples of the dangers of feeding cassowaries,” said Mr Lewis. “Local wildlife rangers have been warning people of the risks, installing signage and providing education, but the unlawful feeding persists.”
DETSI says that when cassowaries associate humans with food, they can become impatient and aggressive, particularly when accompanied by chicks.
Cassowaries can inflict serious injuries to people and pets by kicking out with their large, clawed feet. People are asked to Be cass-o-wary at all times in the Wet Tropics.
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A bit like Dingo’s on K’gari (Fraser Island). how many times do people need to be told, “DON’T FEED NATIVE ANIMALS”.
The Cassowary coast is a tourism hot spot and the mantra is more development, development, and more development at the expense of habitat for the Cassowary.
As a grey nomad and an environmentally concerned person we need to adhere to advise in respect to nature.