Southern cassowary
Casuarius casuarius
IUCN Red List StatusLeast Concern
Casuarius casuarius
The Southern cassowary has muscular legs and powerful feet, which have earned it the reputation of being one of the most dangerous birds in the world! It can kick out when threatened and use its dagger-like claws, which can sometimes have deadly consequences.
The name "cassowary" comes from a Papuan word meaning ‘horned head’. If you catch a glimpse of this prehistoric-looking bird, you'll notice it has a helmet-like feature on top of its head, known as a casque. It runs with its head down and uses the casque to help charge through thick forests and vegetation.
Its large legs also enable it to run fast, which is essential for females, as they need to be quick to chase the males during courtship. The females don't hang around either – once they’ve laid their eggs, they abandon the nest to hunt for a new partner, leaving the male to raise their chicks!
The great green macaw is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, with a population size believed to be fewer than 2,500 mature individuals.
The main threat to the survival of these parrots has been habitat loss. It is estimated that between 1900 and 2000, 90% of their original habitat was lost.
