Cassowary

70 x 50 cm
acrylic & pencil on canvas
There are three species of Cassowaries in the world; they mainly inhabit the jungle regions of Papua New Guinea and North Eastern Australia. The Southern Cassowary is the largest species and on average stands at 1.8 metres tall or about six feet tall, this makes them the third tallest living flightless bird after the Ostrich and the Emu, they are the second heaviest flightless bird as they are a good deal stockier than the Emu.
The Cassowary has gathered a reputation as the world’s most dangerous bird due its kicks and sharps claws (it’s willingness to defend itself). More and more contact with humans due to the spreading of settlements into the wild spaces is having an impact. They Cassowaries are tempted to scavenge human waste dumps. They predominantly feed on fruits but they are omnivorous by nature. They scavenge what is available when their natural food choices are no longer available overtaken by farms and mono cropping. When disturbed or threatened the cassowary would natural flee, however this is not always possible in semi populated areas where there are walls and fences that can hinder escape routes. When scared or cornered they have been known to lash out, as we all do.