Cassowaries

It’s hard to believe, but these large flightless birds are actually one of the most dangerous animals at Bristol Zoo! Related to the ostrich, cassowaries have a dagger-like middle claw, which they can use to disembowel enemies with a single kick.

Bristol Zoo is home to two double-wattled cassowaries, a male and female. We keep these birds in adjacent enclosures and only mix them occasionally – mainly because they are solitary in the wild – and female cassowaries are famous for their temper!

These birds eat fruit, vegetables, nuts, insects and small mammals such as mice, but their favourite food, here at the zoo, is cherry tomatoes. In the wild, they will also eat small amphibians and rodents.

Cassowaries are native to the tropical forests of New Guinea and northeast Australia, and are the third tallest and second heaviest living bird (females can weigh 50kg) – smaller only than the ostrich and emu.

Click here for more information on cassowaries.