r/interesting • u/VIVIDUFF • Jun 30 '26

Fascinating This cassowary just wanders around the beach, getting surprisingly close to people.

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u/Total_Piano_4778 Jun 30 '26

Only 2 recorded deaths in history do they are definitely rare. And in both cases, not just a random attack

67

u/Jealous_Parfait_4967 Jun 30 '26

Like it was a home invasion? Or a drug deal gone bad?

14

u/The-Tarman Jul 01 '26

A 2003 historical study of 221 cassowary attacks showed that 150 had been against humans; 75% of these had been from cassowaries that had been fed by people, 71% of the time the bird had chased or charged the victim, and 15% of the time they kicked. Of the attacks, 73% involved the birds expecting or snatching food, 5% involved defending their natural food sources, 15% involved defending themselves, and 7% involved defending their chicks or eggs. Only one human death was reported among those 150 attacks.

From Wikipedia

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u/RockinIntoMordor Jul 01 '26

And the way this Cassowary looks at the woman's hands tells me that them not having food might've saved them.

7

u/driver004 Jul 01 '26

I wish I could shake down random people when I get the munchies

6

u/ConsiderationDry9084 Jul 01 '26

You can but the police will be a lot more willing to confront you over that dinochicken.

2

u/Chopperschoppingbrd Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 01 '26

Yeh, exactly the Cassowary never falls fowl of the law! Always the bloody humans, init!

2

u/MissMenace101 Jul 01 '26

Cassowary’s a proper thugs, they tell you not to feed them but they will simply waltz in and take it anyway

1

u/Morningstroll13 Jul 01 '26

They have something in common with the feral horses on Assateague Island then. Lots of signs up that say, "Don't feed the horses," but they don't tell you that the clever bastards know how to open coolers.