Imagine relaxing on a serene beach in Australia, only to come face-to-face with a creature that’s more suited to the pages of Jurassic Park than your typical vacation. For Julie Nos and her daughter Chelsea, this was exactly what happened when they had a startling run-in with a cassowary—commonly known as the world’s most dangerous bird—during a visit to Etty Beach.
The cassowary, a massive flightless bird often referred to as a “living dinosaur” due to its prehistoric lineage, casually strolled up to the pair while they lounged on deck chairs. Initially unaware of the danger, Julie and Chelsea were struck with a mix of shock and awe, thinking the bird was akin to an emu. It wasn’t until later that they discovered the full extent of its lethal reputation.
“We had a little bit of freeze mode going on,” Julie recalled in her interview with 7NEWS Cairns. “Sort of thought they were like emu-like birds, but afterwards we found out that they can be killers.”
Beachgoers have a close encounter with a Cassowary, a bird capable of killing a human in one blow pic.twitter.com/PcjwOuiGAb
— Whoa, That's Interesting! (@dt_interesting) September 23, 2024
Cassowaries, native to Northern Australia, New Guinea, and surrounding regions, stand up to six feet tall and weigh as much as 160 pounds. Despite their ostrich-like appearance, they are far from harmless. With sharp claws on each of their three toes, they are capable of fatal attacks. While generally reserved and more likely to flee than fight, their powerful legs allow them to leap into action when threatened, using those deadly claws to defend themselves.
In fact, cassowaries have been responsible for a few rare but fatal attacks. In 2019, a 75-year-old man in Florida tragically lost his life after falling near his cassowary, an event that highlighted just how dangerous these birds can be under certain circumstances.
These “living dinosaurs” are also ecologically vital, dispersing seeds from more than 200 species of fruit across their habitat. However, as the incident at Etty Beach proves, humans must respect their space and understand their potentially lethal abilities.
While attacks are rare, wildlife experts agree: if you encounter a cassowary in the wild, it’s best to keep your distance and allow the bird to go on its way. With their powerful legs, impressive speed, and dinosaur-like presence, these birds command both fascination and caution.
