Common name: southern cassowary
Species name: Casuarius casuarius
johnsonii
Family: Casuariidae (cassowaries and emus)
Conservation status: The southern cassowary is listed as Endangered nationally
(Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
(EPBC)).
Description
Of three species of cassowaries in the world, only the southern cassowary,
Casuarius casuarius johnsonii, is found in Australia. Like the emu and
ostrich, the southern cassowary is a ratite, a large flightless bird with
unusual feathers and other features that distinguish it from all other birds. A
striking bird with glossy black plumage, the adult southern cassowary has a
tall, brown casque (helmet) on top of its head, a vivid blue and purple neck,
long drooping red wattles and amber eyes. The purpose of the tall helmet or
casque is unknown but it may indicate dominance and age, as it continues to grow
throughout life.
Species name: Casuarius casuarius
johnsonii
Family: Casuariidae (cassowaries and emus)
Conservation status: The southern cassowary is listed as Endangered nationally
(Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
(EPBC)).
Description
Of three species of cassowaries in the world, only the southern cassowary,
Casuarius casuarius johnsonii, is found in Australia. Like the emu and
ostrich, the southern cassowary is a ratite, a large flightless bird with
unusual feathers and other features that distinguish it from all other birds. A
striking bird with glossy black plumage, the adult southern cassowary has a
tall, brown casque (helmet) on top of its head, a vivid blue and purple neck,
long drooping red wattles and amber eyes. The purpose of the tall helmet or
casque is unknown but it may indicate dominance and age, as it continues to grow
throughout life.
THE CASSOWARY
What are Cassowaries?
Cassowaries a re large species of flight-less birds, that are natively found in the forests of Papua New Guinea and on it's surrounding islands. The cassowaries are closely related to other large flight-less birds including emus and ostriches and are the third tallest and second heaviest birds in the world behind these two.
Where are they located?
The cassowary inhabits dense tropical forest on Papua New Guinea and it's surrounding islands and also parts of north-eastern Australia. There are three species of cassowary which are the Southern Cassowary or Double-wattled Cassowary. They are found in southern New Guinea, north eastern Australia, and the Aru Islands. Another type of cassowary is the Dwarf Cassowary or Bennett's Cassowary usually found in New Guinea, New Britain and on Yapen. The third type of cassowary is the Northern Cassowary or Single-wattled Cassowary, found in northern and western New Guinea, and Yapen.
Why are Cassowaries threatened?
The cassowaries are threatened due to
Habitat Destruction:
Destruction and habitat loss is the major threat to
the survival of the cassowary. Habitat destruction can range from
land clearing for farming, urban development and logging. Land clearing results
in direct loss of habitat for the cassowary. This decreases the numbers of the
Cassowary as they are successful in establishing themselves elsewhere
and generally die from stress, predation or
starvation.
Vehicles:
There have been many roads that have been put through the
Cassowaries habitat. Many birds have numerous roads crossing through their
territory, and they have to cross these roads in order to find a suitable areas
to settle. As the cassowaries have no road sense like you and me, they run the
risk of being run over every time one crosses the road. Between
February 1986 and September 1988, 17 cassowaries have died due to being run over
by motor vehicles.
Disease:
Although
disease is only a small problem compared to other threats it is still valid.
there is a growing concern that cassowaries are contracting diseases through
contaminated food and domestic animals. When cassowaries go through rubbish bins
the contaminated food can cause them to get Tuberculosis or fungal diseases,
which spread quickly through the cassowary population.
Human activity:
The human activities have contributed to the decline of the cassowary species because of what we humans do without knowing that we are actually threatening the cassowary species. We humans through our careless actions in cutting down trees, pollution- causing bad destruction to the habitats of cassowaries and the many buildings being built in replacement to the area of the cassowaries' habitats.
How can we help the cassowaries?
We can help the cassowaries from being threatened by
-Not cutting down many trees, habitats, environment in which the cassowaries live in.
-Not building sites, building in replacement to the area in which the cassowaries live.
-Be careful when driving, not to run over animals.
- Following the instructions of the rules in which can protect the cassowaries from being extinction.
-Never feed cassowaries, especially on the side of the road where they might get
hit by passing cars.
What can we as a community do to help save the threatened habitats of Cassowaries?
As a nation, community we can do little or even great things that will help protect the habitats of cassowaries form threatened.
-One way we can help are donating money
to various foundations. These
foundations help the cassowary by: Buying
cassowary habitat in order to
stop development and logging, establishing pest
free sanctuaries for
research and possible breeding and replanting fruit
trees.
- Stop cutting down trees
- Keeping our surroundings lean which will help the habitat of the cassowary to be clean as well.
-Raise an awareness in our communities in relation to protecting the habitats of the cassowaries.
-Planting trees in which are food to the cassowaries that will help them to increase more.
PERSPECTIVES OF VARIOUS GROUPS REGARDING THE THREATENED HABITATS OF CASSOWARIES.
PUBLIC:
Cassowaries are truly wonderful animals but through their loss of habitats, they have lost their identity, in saying, where they belong.
SCHOOL STUDENTS:
Cassowaries are large flightless birds which through their identity and their characteristics are well known. Their species are unique. Through us students, being educated, it helps us to learn the needs where cassowaries face and the many challenges they encounter.
ENVIRONMENTALISTS:
Why cassowaries? these animals have an important role in the environment. They give us an understanding of our natural world, through their characters, the habitats and the way in which they live. They embrace the natural world to us humans. Therefore, all in all. We need to save the cassowaries!!!
INDIVIDUALS:
Cassowaries' habitats are being destroyed by many things. It also ruins the identity of the cassowary. It pushes the species of cassowaries to be in a state of extinction. Therefore we need to help save the cassowaries habitats and itself by all of us hand in hand doing the right thing!!
What are Cassowaries?
Cassowaries a re large species of flight-less birds, that are natively found in the forests of Papua New Guinea and on it's surrounding islands. The cassowaries are closely related to other large flight-less birds including emus and ostriches and are the third tallest and second heaviest birds in the world behind these two.
Where are they located?
The cassowary inhabits dense tropical forest on Papua New Guinea and it's surrounding islands and also parts of north-eastern Australia. There are three species of cassowary which are the Southern Cassowary or Double-wattled Cassowary. They are found in southern New Guinea, north eastern Australia, and the Aru Islands. Another type of cassowary is the Dwarf Cassowary or Bennett's Cassowary usually found in New Guinea, New Britain and on Yapen. The third type of cassowary is the Northern Cassowary or Single-wattled Cassowary, found in northern and western New Guinea, and Yapen.
Why are Cassowaries threatened?
The cassowaries are threatened due to
Habitat Destruction:
Destruction and habitat loss is the major threat to
the survival of the cassowary. Habitat destruction can range from
land clearing for farming, urban development and logging. Land clearing results
in direct loss of habitat for the cassowary. This decreases the numbers of the
Cassowary as they are successful in establishing themselves elsewhere
and generally die from stress, predation or
starvation.
Vehicles:
There have been many roads that have been put through the
Cassowaries habitat. Many birds have numerous roads crossing through their
territory, and they have to cross these roads in order to find a suitable areas
to settle. As the cassowaries have no road sense like you and me, they run the
risk of being run over every time one crosses the road. Between
February 1986 and September 1988, 17 cassowaries have died due to being run over
by motor vehicles.
Disease:
Although
disease is only a small problem compared to other threats it is still valid.
there is a growing concern that cassowaries are contracting diseases through
contaminated food and domestic animals. When cassowaries go through rubbish bins
the contaminated food can cause them to get Tuberculosis or fungal diseases,
which spread quickly through the cassowary population.
Human activity:
The human activities have contributed to the decline of the cassowary species because of what we humans do without knowing that we are actually threatening the cassowary species. We humans through our careless actions in cutting down trees, pollution- causing bad destruction to the habitats of cassowaries and the many buildings being built in replacement to the area of the cassowaries' habitats.
How can we help the cassowaries?
We can help the cassowaries from being threatened by
-Not cutting down many trees, habitats, environment in which the cassowaries live in.
-Not building sites, building in replacement to the area in which the cassowaries live.
-Be careful when driving, not to run over animals.
- Following the instructions of the rules in which can protect the cassowaries from being extinction.
-Never feed cassowaries, especially on the side of the road where they might get
hit by passing cars.
What can we as a community do to help save the threatened habitats of Cassowaries?
As a nation, community we can do little or even great things that will help protect the habitats of cassowaries form threatened.
-One way we can help are donating money
to various foundations. These
foundations help the cassowary by: Buying
cassowary habitat in order to
stop development and logging, establishing pest
free sanctuaries for
research and possible breeding and replanting fruit
trees.
- Stop cutting down trees
- Keeping our surroundings lean which will help the habitat of the cassowary to be clean as well.
-Raise an awareness in our communities in relation to protecting the habitats of the cassowaries.
-Planting trees in which are food to the cassowaries that will help them to increase more.
PERSPECTIVES OF VARIOUS GROUPS REGARDING THE THREATENED HABITATS OF CASSOWARIES.
PUBLIC:
Cassowaries are truly wonderful animals but through their loss of habitats, they have lost their identity, in saying, where they belong.
SCHOOL STUDENTS:
Cassowaries are large flightless birds which through their identity and their characteristics are well known. Their species are unique. Through us students, being educated, it helps us to learn the needs where cassowaries face and the many challenges they encounter.
ENVIRONMENTALISTS:
Why cassowaries? these animals have an important role in the environment. They give us an understanding of our natural world, through their characters, the habitats and the way in which they live. They embrace the natural world to us humans. Therefore, all in all. We need to save the cassowaries!!!
INDIVIDUALS:
Cassowaries' habitats are being destroyed by many things. It also ruins the identity of the cassowary. It pushes the species of cassowaries to be in a state of extinction. Therefore we need to help save the cassowaries habitats and itself by all of us hand in hand doing the right thing!!
MAP OF AUSTRALIA.
Map showing the distribution of the Southern Cassowary in Australia.
This map demonstrates the various common places in which one of the types of cassowaries live.
Shows that cassowaries are from different types that do exist.
ThdCAThis Thhis map demonstrateshis
Map showing the distribution of the Southern Cassowary in Australia.
This map demonstrates the various common places in which one of the types of cassowaries live.
Shows that cassowaries are from different types that do exist.
ThdCAThis Thhis map demonstrateshis