These Jurassic creatures are the closest living thing we have to a Velociraptor. As one of the most dangerous birds in the world, it’s hard to imagine that they have any predators.
These prehistoric birds are one of the deadliest in the world. They have beautiful, vivid blue plumage and brush-like black feathers on their backs. They are the living dinosaurs of the bird world and a close relative of the ostrich.
What eats a cassowary?
Visually striking and majestic, cassowaries are unique in their appearance. These birds are fearless and bold. However, they still have predators above them in the food chain!
The only predators that cassowaries have are crocodiles, quolls and dingos. But as the beasts of the Daintree, they are rarely hunted by these predators.
There’s a bigger threat to cassowaries than crocs or dingoes.
The real threat to the cassowary
The true threat to the cassowary is feral pigs. Pigs are the biggest danger to cassowaries and the rainforest as a whole.
Unfortunately, they are destructive to the habitat of the rainforest. They are not native to the rainforest, and most people perceive them as pests. They eat cassowary chicks and steal their eggs. This is devastating not only for the cassowary species but the whole Daintree Rainforest. Human efforts are investigating how the pig infestation can be solved to help ensure their survival.
How do feral pigs affect the Daintree Rainforest?
The cassowary eats cassowary plums or grey milkwood. These fruits are golf-ball-sized, smooth purple fruits that drop onto the floor. They have gentle digestive systems and can hold these fruits for up to 10 hours. They excrete these seeds, which then fall to the ground and grow into trees.
A whopping 100 species of plants in the Daintree completely rely on the cassowary’s poop for survival. That’s because cassowaries eat the fruits, and then travel around the Daintree while the fruit is being digested. When they’ve digested and pooped it out, the fruit can grow in nutrient-rich soil. If the feral pigs are eating these fruits, then there is a decrease in the spread of seeds. This means if the fruit is at risk, then so is the rainforest.
They live in harmony with the Daintree Rainforest. The survival of the rainforest is dependent on these magnificent creatures.
