Cassowary
28-09-2024
09:57 AM
1 min read
Overview:
Every year, World Cassowary Day is observed on September 26 to draw international attention to the reasons these birds are important for the world at large.
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