Be Cass-o-Wary – they can swim too

Issued: 13 Nov 2023

Those watching on initially thought it was a turtle. Then they thought it might be a shark’s dorsal fin. As they watched on, they were stunned when a sub-adult cassowary emerged from the ocean and shook itself off.

The remarkable sighting was reported to the Department of Environment and Science on 31 October, and the Bingil Bay Campground host also provided footage.

Wildlife officer Stephen Clough thanked the host for calling the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) about the unexpected ocean swim.

“The southern population of the southern cassowary is listed as endangered under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, and it is important that, sick injured or orphaned cassowaries are reported to QPWS,” Mr Clough said.

“Cassowaries can swim and will take to the water to cross from one side of a river to the other, or if they feel threatened by domestic dogs or another cassowary through a territorial dispute.

“We’re not sure how long this animal was in the water or why it went for a swim but the footage is astonishing.”

Mandubarra Traditional Owner from Mamu Country and Bingil Bay Campground Host Nikita McDowell was alerted to the swimming cassowary by a guest, who told her it was about 200 metres offshore.

“I ran down and waited for the cassowary to emerge from the ocean, and it must’ve been exhausted as it stood in the shade beneath a tree with its legs shaking for about half an hour,” Ms McDowell said.

“Perhaps it entered the ocean around south Mission Beach and was caught by the current or in a rip and swept around to Bingil Bay.

“The advice I received from the local wildlife carers and QPWS was to monitor it and it would move on when it was ready. I went to make a coffee and when I returned, it was gone.”

The cassowary is a significant species to all Traditional Owners in the Cassowary Coast region. Traditional Owners use different words for cassowaries.

• Bingil Bay is in Djiru Country
• Djiru Traditional Owners call the cassowary the goondoi
• Mandubarra Traditional Owners from Mamu country to the north call the cassowary gumbugan

Mr Clough said people who live in cassowary country should slow down on the roads, particularly around areas the birds are known to frequent.

“There’s an estimated 4000 cassowaries remaining in Queensland, and they face numerous threats to their survival including habitat loss, vehicle strikes and domestic dog attacks,” he said.

“Feeding cassowaries causes them to frequent residential areas, where they are more prone to vehicle strikes and dog attacks, and it is often said that ‘a fed bird is a dead bird’.

“Residents in cassowary country should make sure dogs are contained within a fenced yard, are walked on-lead, and are locked up at night.

“This rare sighting and lucky escape by the cassowary is a reminder that we all need to do what we can to protect and conserve the species.”

Southern cassowary behaviour is unpredictable. Cassowaries can inflict serious injuries to people and pets by kicking with their large, clawed feet.

• Never approach cassowaries.
• Never approach chicks – male cassowaries will defend them.
• Never feed cassowaries – it is illegal, dangerous and has caused southern cassowary deaths.
• Always discard food scraps in closed bins and ensure compost bins have secure lids.
• Always slow down when driving in southern cassowary territory.
• Never stop your vehicle to look at southern cassowaries on the road.
• Keep dogs behind fences or on a leash.

If you come face-to-face with an aggressive bird, it's important to have some simple strategies to protect yourself. If you encounter a southern cassowary, back away slowly and put something like a tree or a backpack between yourself and the bird, and let it go on its way.

Cassowary sightings should be reported to QPWS by calling 1300 130 372.

Read more information on cassowaries.