The Cassowary is a large and flightless bird, just like the Emu. Here are some fun facts about them:

• The Southern Cassowary is native to Australia and New Guinea.
  
• Some Aboriginal groups have traditionally hunted cassowaries for their meat, which was considered a delicacy. They would also use the bird’s feathers for ceremonial purposes.
• In the Dreamtime story known as “The Cassowary and the Hunter” the cassowary is seen as a guardian of the forest. This story originates from the Aboriginal peoples of the Yidinji tribe, who are the traditional custodians of the land around the rainforests of Far North Queensland, where the southern cassowary is found. These stories teach important lessons about respecting nature and the powerful creatures that live in it.
• Cassowaries love fruit and are known as the “rainforest gardeners” because they help spread seeds around the forest when they eat and poop out the seeds.
• Cassowaries can run up to 50 km/h using their powerful legs to help them move quickly through the dense underbrush in the forest.
• Cassowaries have a long, sharp claw on each foot that can be up to 12 cm long. They use these claws to defend themselves if threatened. 
• The bony casque on a cassowary’s head helps them push through thick vegetation in the rainforest.
  
• Cassowaries are usually solitary and prefer to live alone. They only come together during mating season or when a parent is raising chicks.
• After the female lays eggs, the male cassowary takes care of the nest. He incubates the eggs and looks after the chicks until they are old enough to be on their own.
• Like emus, cassowaries can’t fly. Their small wings are hidden under their thick, black feathers, that help protect them from thorns and branches in the rainforest.