What makes the Cassowary so tough

[Markxxx]

I read in book after book that the Cassowary is the most dangerous bird. How one kick can kill a horse or rip a man to shreds.

Why not an Ostrich? Or Emu? They look pretty big and have the toes as well?

What is it about the Cassowary?

Any other info on this bird would be appreciated.

[astro]

What is it about the Cassowary?
[/B]

Casso's just full of 'tude. It's one bad mofo.


Random House: Any of several large flightless birds of the family Casuariidae, of New Guinea, N Australia, and adjacent islands, having a bare neck and head topped by a bony casque.

[Smeghead]

Wow, I got here before Wood Thrush for once.

I'm no expert, but I believe a large part of it is just plain temper. Cassowaries will charge you if they don't like you. Ostriches and emus won't - at least, not as often.

[Wood Thrush]

Cassowaries also have something most other Ratites lack — a long, sharp claw. They are also natuarlly "vicious."

I'll let this site (http://www.ozramp.net.au/~senani/cassow.htm) elaborate:

The Cassowary has strong powerful legs with dagger-like claws on its toes. It defends itself by kicking. Its kick is powerful enough to rip open a person's stomach or even kill the person.


Yes, the cassowary is indeed "one bad mofo."

The cassowary, If I must venture an educated guess, strikes more often because they live in a different habitat. Ostriches and emus live on mainly grasslands. But cassowaries live in thick forests where escape is less effective. The casque's main function is in fact to break through dense undergrowth.

[DrFidelius]

Courage!

What makes a King out of a slave? Courage!
What makes the flag on the mast to wave?
Courage!

What makes the elephant charge his tusk
In the misty mist, or the dusky dusk?
What makes the muskrat guard his musk?
Courage!

What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder?
Courage!

What makes the dawn come up like thunder?
Courage!

What makes the Hottentot so hot?
What puts the "ape" in apricot?
What have they got that I ain't got?

Courage!

No, I really don't have anything useful to add...

[Rysdad]

Originally posted by astro
[QUOTE]Casso's just full of 'tude. It's one bad mofo.


I'll second (or third) that. They're just fuckin' mean. None too bright, though. I was at an animal park in Cairns, and there was a cassowary there that kept kicking a stout chain link fence as I walked by. I thought he just had a problem with the fence, but he followed along as I kept walking...all the while kicking away.

Dumb bird. I hope he broke his damn foot.

Ugly, too. Even a PETAphile wouldn't like 'em.

[hawthorne]

If you see the bird in the rainforest, it doesn't look so ugly after all. The foot is presumably used along with the head and beak to break up the detritis on the forest floor.

picmr