Close Encounters of the Bird Kind.
A mother and son in Australia narrowly escaped an encounter with two hungry cassowaries – one of the only bird species on the planet with a track record of killing humans, according to animal officials.
Security video from south Mission Beach shows the mother and son pair were heading for their home on May 9 when the boy noticed two cassowaries following them.
He starts to run. The mother who is just ahead holds the door open so her son can rush inside.
The mom follows suit and shut the door before the cassowaries can catch them, according to the footage.
“Thankfully the mother and child were able to get inside to safety, but it’s an important reminder to not interfere with wildlife,” said Wildlife Ranger Jeff Lewis in a press release.
Cassowaries are capable of inflicting serious damage to humans by delivering powerful kicks with their large, sharp, clawed feet.
“They’re most active at twilight, have a claw that rivals Freddy Krueger’s, and are one of the few bird species that have killed humans according to the World Wildlife Fund.
“But don’t write off this flightless cousin of the emu as a thing of nightmares. Unprovoked, cassowaries are fairly shy and peaceful, and they play an important role in their tropical forest ecosystem.”
Animal experts said the two cassowaries were a parent child pair, too, a father and son who had been “habituated” – that is fed by humans. Once that happens, the birds come to expect it and can get aggressive trying to get more food.
That’s why the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation is strongly encouraging people who live near the deadly birds to avoid feeding them.
Feeding cassowaries can alter the bird’s behavior, and create risks to humans and to the endangered bird, animal officials said.
“This incident is one of several cassowary interactions in the area which are linked to unlawful feeding,” Lewis said. “When cassowaries associate humans with food, they can become impatient and aggressive, particularly when accompanied by chicks.”
An elderly man sustained a serious cut to his leg in April when a cassowary approached him looking for grub. Lewis said it was just dumb luck that his injuries weren’t worse.
“These incidents are stark examples of the dangers of feeding cassowaries,” Smith said.
The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation has started a public service campaign to warn people about the dangers of feeding the avian answer to Freddy Krueger. It’s called: “Be-cass-o-wary.”
The tips include never stopping your vehicle to look at cassowaries on the road, never get between a chick and its dad — cassowary dads are very protective and will defend them — and finally to give cassowaries their space.
