As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Sunday 4 March 2018

Daintree research centre to save endangered cassowaries


Peter Michael, The Courier-Mail
February 21, 2018 2:00pm

THE Daintree’s endangered cassowaries – under threat from pigs, dogs, cars and crocodiles – may be thrown the lifeline of a new research and breeding facility in the world’s oldest rainforest.

Douglas Shire Council has ordered a feasibility study into how to protect the dwindling population of the iconic flightless bird, a popular tourist drawcard, in the jungles of far north Queensland.

Every year hundreds of southern cassowaries, a throwback to the dinosaur era, are killed or injured, and baby chicks orphaned.

Today it is estimated as few as 1500 birds still survive in the wild in Australia.

“We’re firmly dedicated to protecting our cassowaries,’’ Douglas Mayor Julia Leu said.

“I think it is time we at least look at the feasibility of building one (a cassowary facility) in the Daintree Rainforest.’’

Continued 
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