Video: Cape York rangers chased by southern cassowary

A southern cassowary caught rangers by surprise when it sprinted after them in tropical bushland. See what they had to say

COMMONWEALTH Games athletes could learn a lot from an impressive display of athleticism by a male southern cassowary in Cape York as it chased a group of Indigenous rangers at top speed.

The rarely sighted bird pursued the Wuthathi Custodians, a ranger group from eastern Cape York, while they conducted field work and track maintenance.

The Uthini, the Wuthathi word for "cassowary", was spotted by Wuthathi custodians on a land management field trip. Photo: Sophie Holt, Wuthathi IPA co-ordinator.

“I was riding along on my quad bike when it felt like something was watching me,” said senior Wuthathi custodian Cameron Wilson.

“Suddenly I saw it and it kind of shot out at me and forced me off the track.

“I got off my bike and was behind … a tree while the rest of the crew caught up.”

Clayton Enoch, Wuthathi Land and Sea custodian co-ordinator, gets a quick selfie with his pursuer. Photo: Clayton Enoch.

Custodian co-ordinator Clayton Enoch said it was amazing to get so close to a healthy uthini, which is the Wuthathi word for “cassowary”.

“When we took off again it chased us,” he said.

“We couldn’t believe its speed and stamina.”

Wuthathi Indigenous Protected Area co-ordinator Sophie Holt said the sighting was a positive sign of the health of the country.

“We hope there is a broader population within this area to be protected,” she said.

Originally published as Video: Cape York rangers chased by southern cassowary