Clever girl
A chick of the ‘most dangerous bird in the world’ has hatched in the Cotswolds.
Sure, it sounds like the plotline for a Jurassic Park spin-off – just wait till the bird escapes and runs rampage across the British isles – but the good news is that the chick in in safe hands.
The chick, which is a Southern Cassowary, hatched at Birdland in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, and is only the fourth to hatch in Europe this year as well as being the first in the UK since 2021.
The bird species is known as an aggressive species and has been responsible for two deaths and hundreds of reported attacks since the start of the 20th century.
Watch Birdland’s video below to get a glimpse of the rare chick.
Alistair Keen, a keeper at the centre said: “When we caught our first glimpse of the tiny chick it was a very special moment indeed.”
“Cassowaries have a reputation as one of the world’s most dangerous birds and their size, speed and power combined with their dagger-like, 10cm claws mean we have to take looking after them extremely seriously.
“They are the only birds on site that have their own risk assessment as they are potentially so hazardous.”
The large bird is a cousin of the emu and is native to the tropical forests of the island of New Guinea as well as small parts of northern Australia.
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The animal is notorious for its large legs, sharp claws and aggressive behaviour.
Don’t try out running one of these beasts either as the cassowary can run up 50km/h – rapid.
Keepers at Birdland have been trying to breed the bird for more than 25 years, making the eventual gratification huge.
Keeper Alistair said: “It has been a massive effort from the entire team here over many years, but it’s all been worthwhile when you see this amazing humbug-coloured chick exploring its new surroundings under the watchful eye of a very protective father.”
Cases of cassowaries killing people have been well documented with the first coming in 1926 when a boy in Australia was kicked in the neck by the bird, dying of his injuries.
The other came more recently in 2019 when a man in Florida, 75-year-old Marvin Hajos, died after one of his pet cassowaries clawed him to death after he fell to the ground, despite raising the bird all its life.
Birdland is hoping that curious visitors will head down to the Cotswolds to get a glimpse of the rare, one of a kind bird as it starts off its young life.
