On a rare occasion in the animal world, the male 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, the male leads them to his regular feeding grounds, protects them, and teaches them the ways of the world.
Youngsters stay with their fathers for up to 16 months.
The name ‘cassowary’ originates from two Papuan words: ‘kasu’ (horned) and ‘wari’ (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 are providing a growing threat to the birds’ long-term survival prospects.
Although flightless, like other members of the ratite family, including ostriches and emus, giant birds 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 meters and have even been filmed swimming.
Over the coming weeks, visitors are hoping to have a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of the fast-growing bird in its spacious enclosure.
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
