Cassowary called Elvis causes a flap during police operation ‘Whiskey Boost’ in Kuranda
An infamous cassowary called Elvis surprised motorists and officers when he casually strolled through a police roadside stop in Far North Queensland.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
While officers were conducting roadside tests, things took a wild turn when Elvis the cassowary strutted onto the scene.
Police were stopping motorists early in Kuranda as part of Operation Whiskey Boost — when the king himself made an entrance.
Senior Constable Dallas Trembath from Herberton Highway Patrol said the famous bird casually wandered through the police site at the top of the range.
“Elvis is a bit of a local celebrity out here,” Senior Constable Trembath said. “He’s often seen in the area, but we weren’t expecting him to walk right through the middle of our operation — with his girlfriend.”
Operation Whiskey Boost targets impaired driving across Queensland and involves the Mareeba, Herberton, and Cairns Highway Patrols. The random drug and alcohol tests will continue for another two months.
The sight of the large, brightly coloured cassowary weaving between officers and vehicles left both police and motorists momentarily stunned.
“He was only a couple of metres from us — just walked straight through, calm as anything,” Trembath said. “We made sure to escort him safely across the road and back to his usual territory.”
While the moment brought plenty of smiles, Trembath said it also served as a timely reminder about road safety in the region.
“Cassowaries can be hard to spot — their black feathers blend into the rainforest,” he said. “With our winding roads on the Tablelands, it’s important drivers remember they’re passing through cassowary habitat. We’re not just sharing the road with other drivers, but with wildlife too.”
Cassowaries are often spotted along the Palmerston Highway and the Gillies Range, and are known to appear without warning — making them a serious hazard for unsuspecting drivers.
“We’re urging motorists to take extra care, particularly early in the morning and in known cassowary zones,” he said.
As for Elvis he left the scene safely, with locals saying he’s still king of the range, strutting through like he owns the place.
More Coverage
Originally published as Cassowary called Elvis causes a flap during police operation ‘Whiskey Boost’ in Kuranda
‘Profound loss’: Councillor remembers Cairns police officer and mountain bike rider, Frank Falappi
A Cairns councillor has paid tribute to a dedicated community volunteer and police officer, who died suddenly while riding his mountain bike along a challenging trail late last week.
Kids still talk about ‘baddie’: Emotional toll of break-in while mother breastfeeding baby
A mother was breastfeeding her baby at night on Thursday Island when she noticed an intruder in front of her in a frightening break-in that left other children in the house obsessing about “baddies”, a court has been told.