The cassowary is the most dangerous bird in the world. Its inner toe has a long dagger-like claw that acts as a weapon and can slash open a man’s stomach!
The cassowary is found in New Guinea and Northern Australia. It is a secretive forest dweller and is seldom seen, but often heard croaking and bellowing. It cannot fly, but runs at a great speed on its powerful legs. On each foot it has three toes, the inner one having a long straight claw. It can often be seen giving furious kicks at the trunk of trees without any apparent reason. Because of this strange habit the cassowary is regarded as having a very bad temper. In dense forests it can even speed upto 50 km an hour. It can grow upto a height of 6 ft and weigh as much as 180 pounds. When it gets annoyed, it jumps in the air and delivers a vicious kick.
It is a bony-headed bird. Its naked blue head is protected by a bony helmet. Its body is covered with coarse hair-like feathers. It is the only member of the family casuariidae. Unlike other birds, the male incubates eggs. At a time three to six eggs are laid. The eggs are green in colour and 13 centimetres long. They are incubated for 50 days in a leafy nest and on the ground. The adult provides parental care for the young ones.
Cassowaries live in family groups or in pairs. They like to be near water, for they swim readily. They are also good fishers.
According to zoologists, the cassowary’s ancestors were able to fly. But in the process of evolution, it became flightless. It has adapted itself to make the most efficient use of its environment. Emu, kiwi weka and takahe are also flightless birds. Most of the flightless birds are found in Australia and New Zealand.
