[Cet article a initialement été publié le 10 septembre 2024]
The helmet cookie, which is often considered “the most dangerous bird in the world”, faces a threat of extinction, but the good news of the birth of a chick of this species in England in early September 2024 gives hope. Maintaining conservation efforts is still essential to protect this fascinating bird.
Birth of a single bird chick
Pink notebook for the Bourton-on-the-Water animal park in England, which has raised these formidable birds for over 25 years, a Casoar chick has just been born and it is a real success!
Since 2021, it is the first chick to hatch in the United Kingdom and the fourth to be born in Europe this year.
The chick was born from a male from Vogelpark Avifauna, an ornithological park in the Netherlands in Alphen, and a female of Frankfurt, in Germany. But since 2012, parents have lived in Birdland and have been part of the European program for endangered species of extinction, it is a conservatory farming program of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums intended for the conservation of a wild animal species. This marks all the more the success of this birth for the zoological park.
Before 2021, the hatching of casoar chicks in the United Kingdom was relatively rare, in fact, these birds would be difficult to raise in captivity because of their specific environment and behavior needs.
Chick of 'World's Most Dangerous' Bird Hatches https://t.co/djwt7y4kur
– BBC News (UK) (@bbcnews) September 8, 2024
Who is the Casoar?
Casuarius casuariusof its scientific name, the helmet cookie, also called Australian Casoar or common Cash, is one of the ratities, also called “runners' birds” which are unable to fly.
This unique physique bird is easily recognizable. Indeed, thanks to its blue neck and its large feathered legs. He bears the name of Casoar with a helmet in reference to his bone crest which starts from his beak to the above his skull.
Finally there are 3 species of cookies: the helmet cookie (Casuarius casuarius), the dwarf cookie (Casuarius Bennetti) and the unicaronculated cookies (Casuarius unappendiculaus) Recall the WildlifeCentury site.
The couples of cookies share the work, the male cuts the eggs for two months and takes care of the chicks, until they reach the age of 16 months, they will then be able to feed themselves in a more independent way as the British media reminds us.
Why is the Casoar considered the most dangerous bird in the world?
Alistair Keen, the zoo goalkeeper, explains to the British newspaper BBC that “Casoars have the reputation of being one of the most dangerous birds in the world and their size, their speed and their power, combined with their 10 cm claws similar to those of a dagger, force us to take care very seriously”.
Indeed, the latter, originally from the tropical forests of New Guinea and northern Australia, but it is also found in certain Pacific islands. It is considered dangerous because of its powerful legs, but especially its sharp claws. Aggressive when he feels threatened, to defend himself, he attacks with his “helmet”, which can cause serious injuries or even the death of his opponent.
As a reminder, it has already happened that people were killed by cookies. The most recent incident dates back to 2019, Marvin Hajos, a septuagenarian died after being attacked by one of his petlasars as announced by the American WCJB site.
Is the CASOAR a threatened species?
The three species of cookies appear on the red list of the IUCN of endangered species, but they are classified as “minor concern”.
Even if the population of the dwarf cookie remains stable, this is not the case with helmets and unicarcurged cookies which are declining.
In Australia, the helmet cookie is the victim of the reduction of its habitat, hunting, and human activity does not help its survival.
According to the Australian government, only 4,500 individuals in the wild of this species would remain, an emergency, so when we know that this species plays an important role in maintaining the biodiversity of the tropical forest as recalled by the RTBF site.
Sources : BBC, WildlifeCentury, RTBF, Dailymail, UICN
With an unwavering passion for local news, Christopher leads our editorial team with integrity and dedication. With over 20 years’ experience, he is the backbone of Wouldsayso, ensuring that we stay true to our mission to inform.
