Monday, 6 May 2024, 18:50
If there have been nonetheless prehistoric birds flying within the sky, they might most likely look so much just like the cassowary. The little evolution that this species has undergone over 1000’s of years permits us to see in it options of birds from the time of the dinosaurs. “Its atrophied wings, its barely developed feathers, its claw-like nails” all make it particular, as Antonio Garrucho, head of zoology at Bioparc Fuengirola identified.
It is exactly on this centre in Fuengirola the place you may see the cassowary, thought of to be probably the most harmful chook on the earth. This flightless chook is likely one of the largest within the animal kingdom, after the ostrich and the emu, the latter belonging to the identical household, the Casuariidae. It can attain as much as two metres in peak.
In addition to their wingspan, their power lies of their highly effective, sharp claws, particularly the central one, which is about 12 centimetres lengthy. They are good swimmers and might soar as much as almost two metres, however they’re particularly identified for his or her pace – they’ll attain as much as 50 km/h. And, though they’re solitary and pretty peaceable animals, if provoked they’ll reply aggressively and end off the menace with out an excessive amount of bother. “They attack by kicking ahead, and their power and lengthy claws may cause very critical accidents and even loss of life,” stated Bioparc.
This is why this conservation centre has particular and strict protocols for the care of the cassowaries. Every day, the workforce in command of their care works on their diets, cleansing the enclosures, coaching and observing them. “The keeper should observe the place they’re, as their behaviour modifications so much relying on whether or not they’re in warmth, incubating…. He or she should know the species very effectively,” stated Antonio Garrucho. Very vital: sustaining the animal-caretaker bond that permits them to be handled peacefully and with out assaults.
Threatened species
The cassowary is native to Papua New Guinea and Australia. Here, its populations are going through a steady decline, primarily as a result of destruction of their pure habitats. As a end result, the species is classed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, whereas different establishments, such because the Australian authorities, think about it “extremely threatened”.
As for its look, along with its giant, sharp claws, it has black plumage, a deep blue head and a bony-cartilaginous crest that permits it to interrupt tree branches when it runs by way of the forest.
