‘Cassowary attack’: Elderly man injured, hospitalised after wildlife incident

Wildlife officers have revealed fresh details of a rare cassowary attack in North Queensland, where an elderly man was kicked, warning the incident highlights just how dangerous these wild birds can be.

Wildlife officers have released new information about a rare cassowary attack in North Queensland and issued warnings about the potential dangers the wild animals pose.

The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) confirmed on Tuesday that an elderly Cardwell man had suffered a nasty 2-3-inch-deep wound to his upper thigh after he was kicked by an adult cassowary on Friday afternoon.

He was transported to Tully Hospital in a stable condition.

A DETSI spokesman said on Tuesday that the victim was in his backyard with his back to the bird when the cassowary approached him and kicked him in the back of the leg.

He said wildlife officers had investigated the incident.

“Though the cassowary was not in the area, nearby residents reported the cassowary had approached them with bold behaviour.”

Melbourne Zoo giant Southern Cassowary, Zillie, in this file photo. Picture: Supplied

The spokesman said the behaviour was “consistent of a cassowary that has become accustomed to being fed”.

“It’s a good reminder to the public not to be complacent when they are in close proximity to these animals.”

DETSI said rangers provided cassowary safety education to nearby residents.

“People who live in the wet tropics are reminded that cassowaries are large animals and can act in an unpredictable way, which can include dangerous behaviour.”

The spokesman said the large flightless birds should never be fed or given access to food.

“This can cause them to become habituated and begin to approach people expecting food,” he said.

“Cassowaries have been known to become aggressive when approaching people for food but not receiving any.”

There is no suggestion the victim had previously been feeding the rogue bird.

DETSI says people can help preserve wild populations of cassowaries by being “Cass-O-Wary”, namely:

• Never approach cassowaries

• Never approach chicks – male cassowaries will defend them

• Never feed cassowaries – it is illegal and can be dangerous for the birds and for humans

• Always discard food scraps in closed bins and ensure compost bins have secure lids

• Always slow down when driving in cassowary territory

• Never stop your vehicle to look at cassowaries on the road

• Keep dogs behind fences or on a leash

EARLIER: Elderly man wounded in Cassowary attack

An elderly man has been left badly injured by what emergency services have described as a “cassowary attack” in North Queensland.

Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed on late Friday afternoon said a man in his 70s was attacked by the large, flightless bird known erroneously as the most dangerous in the world in Cardwell in the Lower Cassowary Coast.

A wild and potentially deadly cassowary approaches campers at Murray Falls, near Cardwell, in the Girramay National Park in North Queensland in 2024. Picture: Supplied

A QAS spokeswoman said the man had suffered a nasty wound to the leg, presumably from the cassowary’s talon.

“One stable patient with a leg injury has been transported to Tully Hospital following a reported incident with a Cassowary at a private address at 2.45pm.”

Melbourne Zoo giant Southern Cassowary, Zillie.

The spokeswoman said the victim was collected from a medical clinic on Victoria St but did not know where the incident occurred.

The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DESI) has been contacted for comment.

DESI warned in August last year that people feeding cassowaries at the popular camping location at Murray Falls north-west of Cardwell were is putting people “at risk of serious and potentially fatal injuries”.

Originally published as ‘Cassowary attack’: Elderly man injured, hospitalised after wildlife incident