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Newsletter from Weltvogelpark Walsrode - 2010 Nr. 5 / Part 1
New Single-wattled Cassowary male arrived in Weltvogelpark Walsrode
Dangerous union: high risk but important mission. In essence no one had thought it to be possible, since years the Weltvogelpark is searching for a male Single-wattled Cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus) without any luck.
With certainty only these two Single-wattled Cassowaries remain in a European collection and through a beat of luck it turned out to be a pair. As far as we know the only other zoo to keeps this spectacular and rare Ratite is located in the Far-east. On March 9th the male, which could be acquired from a private collection in Spain, arrived. Meanwhile he is adapting well to the climate of northern Germany.
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Female Single-wattled Cassowary - Note the large feet with
the elongated inner claw. (Photo: João Marco Rosa)
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The male Single-wattled Cassowary is significantly smaller than
the female. (Photo: Simon Bruslund Jensen).
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Of the shy and forest dwelling Cassowaries traditionally three different species are recognized; The Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius), the Bennet's Cassowary (Casuarius bennetti) and the Single-wattled (or One Wattled) Cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus). The taxonomy of the Cassowaries is however largely unclear for one due to a high level of individual variation and the fact that most has been described from dried skins that had already lost their natural colors and for another is it possible that indigenous people in New Guinea have been moving live Cassowary chicks around as gifts or food or trade objects since many centuries influencing the original geographic variation in remote regions and on islands. The separation of a fourth species, the Westermann’s Cassowary (Casuarius (bennetti) papuanus) that is usually considered a subspecies of the Bennet's Cassowary has recently become more support although further research is needed to confirm its status.
In zoos the Southern Cassowary is the most common but still rare species, in Europe they seem to occur in two different main forms with a considerable size variation. More research is needed to determine if this is due to different subspecies or might be caused by an environmental factor. In the Weltvogelpark Walsrode the two rarer Cassowary species is represented through the Bennet's Cassowary (Casuarius bennetti papuanus) and the Single-wattled Cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus rufotinctus). The Weltvogelpark is one of the few zoos that ever breed the latter species. It is not without peril to manage these huge and potentially dangerous birds. Unfortunate the last successful breeding occurred a while back in the early eighties.
The Cassowaries can be considered the most dangerous birds in the world as these huge and powerful birds do have an unexpected high potential of aggression. They have the ability to make a powerful frontal kick and the dagger like elongated claw on the inner-toe is a dangerous weapon that has been known to kill humans. Normally the solitarily living Cassowaries are only aggressive towards each other defending their individual territories. However they do attack humans or dogs if cornered or if they are protecting their young and this attack should not be underestimated. Usually initiated with the stretch display where the bird walks slowly with an arched neck and raised back feathers, the birds hit with their powerful legs, sometimes furiously pursuing their victims.
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It is only during the breeding season that Cassowaries get together for a short period. The females are larger and dominant towards the males, which carries out all of the parental duties. Once the eggs have been laid he will incubate and rear the chicks alone. It will take up to 9 months for a young cassowary to reach independence during which period the male caringly leads and protect the young.
Usually Cassowaries are shy and enigmatic forest birds that prefer to go their own ways if disturbed rather than a confrontation. What one mostly gets to see from a Cassowary in the rainforests of New Guinea and Northern Australia is droppings and foot prints. The vary birds disappears surprisingly swift and quietly when they need to.
The Single-wattled Cassowary is native to the northern lowlands rainforests of New Guinea and a few surrounding islands. Due to habitat destruction and considerable hunting pressure they are vulnerable to extinction.
They mainly feed on fallen fruits and berries but also cherish different browse. To access leaves or fruits still hanging in the trees this up to 85 kilo heavy flightless bird is able to leap more than a meter into the air and reach food items with its neck stretched upwards.
In Weltvogelpark the birds are fed on fruits, greens and pellets that provide them with the needed protein, mineral and vitamin supplements. Favorite food items are the local blue-berries which are being deep frozen in the harvesting season so they last throughout the year. Due to their size and large patches of uncovered skin they are sensitive to hypothermia and must therefore be provided with access to a warm shelter, in the Weltvogelpark they have central floor-heating in their stables.
Most Cassowaries do not accept any other Cassowaries very close to them and therefore their enclosures are separated with a solid double walled barrier with a thick conifers hedge in the middle.
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The female Single-wattled Cassowary. (Photo: João Marco Rosa).
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In the breeding season the male will build a nest and both birds will call and display, still the male is subordinate and will have to approach the larger female very carefully and leave quickly in case she changes her mind. As the two birds usually live separated from each other it is up to the keepers and biologists to determine the right time to let the two together. Both too early or too late can equally be the cause of potentially dangerous trouble. Also the direct act of letting the birds together and separating them is not straight forward, for safety reasons all handling is hands off and gates will need to be operated remotely. The effort has to be well coordinated.
Simon Bruslund Jensen
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