Cassowary

About Cassowary:

• It is a large, flightless bird most closely related to the emu. It is considered the most dangerous bird in the world.
• They are strong swimmers and can move quickly on both land and water. 
• It has been stated that cassowaries are shy and they are usually hard to spot, at least in their natural rain forest habitats. 
• Distribution: It is native to New Guinea and found in Australian rainforests.
• There are three species of cassowary.
  • The southern, or double-wattled cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) is the largest of the three. It inhabits lowland rainforest and is also found in eucalyptus forests or forested swamps.
  • The northern or single-wattled cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus) inhabits the coastal swamps and lowland rainforests of northern New Guinea.
  • The dwarf cassowary is smaller than the other two species of cassowary, usually weighing around 50 pounds. Their habitat is at a higher altitude, and they are generally found in more steep mountainous terrain,
• Ecological Significance: They remain a significant dispersal of seeds from native plants between rainforest patches and remain essential in maintaining native plant diversity. 
• Cultural Significance
  • They are culturally important for some Aboriginal groups, and they sometimes feature in traditional ceremonies, dances and Dreamtime narratives.
• Several of these indigenous groups are now involved in cassowary conservation, using traditional ecological knowledge along with modern science.

Q1: What is Emu?

It belongs to a group of flightless running birds known as ratites, the most primitive of the modern bird families. It is the second-largest living bird in the world (the ostrich is the largest). Distribution: The Emu is found only in Australia.

Source:  September 26: A day dedicated to Cassowary, the ‘most dangerous bird’ in the world

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