Visitors to a popular Australian campsite who feed the area's cassowaries, considered the world's most dangerous bird, have been warned that they are putting themselves and future travellers “at risk of serious, possibly fatal injury”.
The Murray Falls campground in Girramay National Park, northwest of Cardwell in northern Queensland, is considered a “prime habitat for cassowaries.” The animals, which are the second heaviest bird in the world after the ostrich and the third largest, can grow up to two metres tall and weigh an incredible 80 kilograms.
Cassowaries retain many of the characteristics of their dinosaur ancestors, including their three-clawed feet. They are the largest native vertebrate in the Australian rainforests and an attack can easily be fatal to humans. Although deaths are rare (the last recorded death was in 1926), serious injuries are more common and are usually caused by humans attempting to feed them, as seen at Murray Falls.
Experts warn: Feeding a cassowary could be the last thing you ever do
Alex Diczbalis, senior conservation officer from Queensland's Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI), said the giant birds had become accustomed to taking food from people at the campsite. He said although many people visit the area specifically to see the animals, travellers could experience “much closer and more dangerous encounters” than they expected.
“The cassowaries at Murray Falls have become accustomed to accepting food from humans and have begun entering camps and actively taking food from plates or from campers' hands,” he said.
“This is a learned behavior because people have intentionally or inadvertently fed the birds and the cassowaries are now prowling around the campground in anticipation of receiving food. Allowing cassowaries to associate humans with food at the Murray Falls campground is dangerous to both the campers and the birds.”
Diczbalis said campers were at risk of serious and potentially fatal injury when feeding cassowaries, especially given the birds' large “dagger-like claws on their feet.” “They can become aggressive if they don't have access to food or feel threatened,” he warned.
“We ask all campers in the area to ensure that all food, leftovers and waste are stored safely and out of reach of cassowaries. Extra vigilance is required at meal times, which may include eating in tents, caravans or vehicles.”
Rangers' plan to combat a potentially deadly problem
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers visit the campsite regularly to educate campers about the behaviour of cassowaries.
They have used special behaviour modification techniques to change the cassowaries' connection between campsites and food. “This encourages the cassowaries to stop hanging around the campsites and return to the rainforest and their natural foraging behaviour,” Diczbalis said.
The maximum fine for anyone caught intentionally feeding a cassowary is $6,452.
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