World Cassowary Day – Saluting the Dinosaur Bird 🦖🐦

Today we celebrate the cassowary: the giant, colorful, slightly terrifying bird that looks like it just stepped off the set of Jurassic Park.

Cassowaries are found in northern Australia and New Guinea, where they spend their time strutting through rainforests, eating fruit, and glaring at anyone who underestimates them. They can grow up to 2 meters tall, weigh more than an adult human, and run at speeds of 50 km/h. Oh, and those dagger-like claws on their feet? Sharp enough to remind you that this bird means business.

But despite their fierce reputation, cassowaries are crucial for their ecosystems. They’re known as “rainforest gardeners,” spreading seeds far and wide through their… digestive system. (Yes, cassowary poop helps regrow the forest. Nature’s recycling at its finest.)

Sadly, cassowary numbers are declining due to habitat loss, car strikes, and dog attacks. Protecting them means protecting the rainforests they call home.