Southern Cassowary

The southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) is a large, flightless bird native to the tropical rainforests of northeastern Australia, New Guinea, and some surrounding islands. It is the third-tallest and second-heaviest living bird in the world, recognizable by its vivid blue and red neck skin, twin red wattles, and the tall, bony casque that rises from the top of its head. Females are larger than males and more brightly colored, a reversal of the pattern seen in most bird species.

Within its rainforest habitat, the southern cassowary functions as a critical seed disperser. It swallows large fruits whole and deposits seeds across wide areas of forest, often being the only animal capable of dispersing the seeds of certain large-fruited tree species, some of which cannot regenerate without it. Despite holding an IUCN Red List status of Least Concern globally, the Australian population is listed as Endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, with habitat clearing, vehicle strikes, dog attacks, and human feeding all identified as significant threats. The population in Queensland's Wet Tropics region is considered particularly vulnerable to local collapse.