This is a Southern Cassowary:
If that look doesn't say "BACK OFF!!" I don't know what does.. I took this photo a few years ago at a bird park, by pushing my camera through the hole in the fence behind the fence I was leaning over. The cassowary was not impressed, and I fired off the shot before quickly retreating back to the safe zone.
The Southern Cassowary is the third largest, standing between 1.5 and 2 metres tall), and second heaviest living bird, behind the Ostrich and Emu, but can be by far the most aggressive and dangerous of them all. They are found in the far north of Australia, predominantly in the rain forests of Northern Queensland, and is a key contributor towards the distribution and germination of plants throughout the area, as there diet consists mainly of fruit.
They have a pretty impressive beak and casque (the horn-like helmet on its head) which can do you some damage, but it's not the pointy end at the front you need to worry about; just have a look at those claws!!
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There are only a few known cases of human deaths (the most recent all the way back in 1926),but many severe injuries, caused by cassowaries. These include puncture wounds, lacerations, and broken bones. There are around 200 reported attacks by cassowaries every year, but most of these attacks are cause by people getting too close to these usually shy birds. If they feel threatened in any way, they will come at you claws first, and if you get knocked down it will likely jump on you, making almost certain you're in for a trip to the hospital. It will probably feel like you've gone 14 round with Danny Green!!
So how do you avoid being attacked by one of these beautiful creatures? Simple. Stay out of range, and don't try to get up close and personal. These animals deserve a healthy level of respect.
Just another Aussie animal that can kill you!!! But there's nowhere else I'd rather live!!
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