New enclosure to give southern cassowary chicks a new start

Issued: 26 Oct 2023

A new enclosure at the Garners Beach Cassowary Rehabilitation Facility in North Queensland will give injured and orphaned cassowary chicks the best chance of being released back into the wild.

Construction of the $165,000 enclosure was completed in September, and provides a secure, predator proof space for cassowary chicks to recover from injury and learn vital foraging skills.

Acting Senior Ranger Dinouk Perera said the enclosure is fifteen metres by five metres and can separately house two sets of chicks, and up to three cassowary chicks if they came in as a family group.

“The design allows wildlife officers from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and members of a local conservation group to feed the chicks in a way that minimises human/cassowary interactions,” Mr Perera said.

“Reducing this interaction decreases the risk of cassowaries becoming habituated to humans, encourages successful rehabilitation and improves potential survivorship when the chicks are released to the wild.

“The Garners Beach Cassowary Rehabilitation Centre was established in 2001 to provide specialised care to sick and injured cassowaries.

“In the past two years, seven cassowaries have been treated at the centre, with two released to the wild and one to be released at the end of this year.

“The southern cassowary is listed as endangered, and that’s why this $165,000 enclosure is so important for the successful rehabilitation of injured and orphaned cassowaries.

“The enclosure has been designed to withstand tropical storms and cyclones and has been planted out with native vegetation to replicate the natural environment.

“Every cassowary is precious, and it will be a special day when the first cassowary chick is placed in the enclosure, but it will be a magnificent day when that chick is released to the wild.

“I’d like to thank our dedicated wildlife officers and the team at the centre for their amazing efforts to rehabilitate and release cassowaries to the wild.”

President of the Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation (C4) Peter Rowles said the enclosure will ensure the security of the chicks and protect them from snakes and other potential hazards.

“The storm-rated enclosure is purpose built, very secure and has been planted out with many species of cassowary food plants,” Mr Rowles said.

“It will allow a small bird to roam, learn to hide and will help teach them what types of native foods they can eat when they are returned to the wild.

“It is more than a zoo or temporary enclosure. It is a learning place for birds, and we will use screening around it so they can’t see their food being introduced.

“Chicks that are cared for in this enclosure will most likely have been impacted by vehicle strikes or domestic dogs, and C4 is asking all drivers to slow down and all residents to keep their dogs secure.”

Explainer/fast fact and/or further information:

• Female cassowaries grow about a foot taller than male cassowaries
• Cassowaries start breeding around five years of age, and can live for up to 40-years
• Once the female lays her eggs, the male guards them and raises the chicks
• The population of cassowaries is estimated to be around 4,000
• They are vitally important to regenerating the rainforest by consuming seeds and spreading them around
• Cassowaries are thought to have evolved around 60 million years ago.