WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS BIRD born at Birdland in the Cotswolds
Birdland Keepers Celebrate First Ever Hatching of World’s Deadliest Chick!
Keepers at Birdland in the Cotswolds have announced their first ever successful hatching of a southern cassowary chick, renowned as one of the world’s largest and most formidable flightless birds.
The birth is a major milestone for the Bourton-on-the-Water wildlife attraction which has been trying to breed the giant birds on site for more than 25 years.
The chick, which is part of the European Endangered Species Programme, is only the fourth to hatch in Europe in 2024 and the first born in the UK since 2021.
The proud parents, a male from Avifauna in Alphen, Netherlands, and a female from Frankfurt, Germany, have been together at Birdland since 2012.
The Cassowary chick at Birdland in the Cotswolds
“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,” said Keeper Alistair Keen.
“Cassowaries have a reputation as one of the world’s most dangerous birds and their size, speed and power combined with their dagger-like, 10-centimetre 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.
“In order to avoid disturbing them during the incubation, we’ve been using video cameras to monitor the nest and when we caught our first glimpse of the tiny chick it was a very special moment indeed,” he added.
Towering above the chick is the adult Cassowary
Rarely in the animal world, it is the male who incubates the eggs and looks after the hatchlings.
He sits on the nest for up to two months. Once the brown-and-tan striped chicks hatch, it’s the male who leads them to his regular feeding grounds, protecting them and teaching them the ways of the world. Youngsters stay with their father for up to 16 months.
The name ‘cassowary’ is thought to originate from two Papuan words: ‘kasu’ (meaning horned) and ‘wari’ (meaning head). It refers to the bird’s prehistoric looking casque, a hollow structure made of keratin on the top of their head.
Found in the tropical rainforests of Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, the southern cassowary’s conservation status was recently re-designated from Vulnerable to Least Concern.
However, deforestation and increasing human activity is providing a growing threat to the birds’ long team survival prospects.
The adult Cassowary at Birdland in the Cotswolds
Although flightless, like other members of the ratite family including ostriches and emus, they are powerful runners reaching speeds of up to 31 mph (50 km/h). Despite lacking the ability to fly, the giant birds can also jump up to two metres and have even been filmed swimming.
Over the coming weeks it is hoped visitors will have a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of the fast-growing bird in its spacious enclosure.
With its combination of woodland, riverside and gardens, Birdland features more than 500 birds, ranging from birds of prey and parrots to cassowaries and cranes in a mix of free-flying and aviary displays. It is also home to England’s only colony of breeding king penguins.
• Birdland Park and Gardens, Rissington Rd, Bourton-on-the-Water, Glos, GL54 2BN
• Open Daily From 10am (Except Christmas Day).
Explore Gloucestershire
5 September 2024
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