In their 51-year history, the successful breeding of cassowaries is a first for Australia Zoo, having welcomed their newest little cassowary chicks and marking an important milestone in the conservation of these beautiful endangered birds.
“The cassowary chicks’ parents, Kevin and Babinda, laid two separate clutches of eggs. Once the first clutch was laid, Kevin wasn’t interested in sitting on the eggs. Our team stepped in to artificially incubate the eggs whilst the couple mated and produced a second clutch of eggs,” Natalie Mckenzie, Head of Birds, said.
“After 48 days of incubating the first clutch, one of the eggs successfully hatched and the little ball of feathers was lovingly named Fergo,” Natalie said.
“Kevin was much more attentive to the second clutch, and nurtured them over the last few weeks. This week two of the eggs he was sitting on have hatched!” she said.
Cassowaries are heavy and flightless birds that use their long, powerful legs to navigate their way through rainforests in search of food. They possess three long, forward facing toes with their toenail growing to up to 12 centimetres long, serving as a powerful defence mechanism in the wild.
“We are so excited to have these extraordinary baby chicks become part of our Australia Zoo family, as this brings us one step closer towards ensuring their population thrives for future generations,” wildlife conservationist Bindi Irwin said.
Australia Zoo’s breeding program is vital for these baby birds, helping to establish an insurance population of healthy cassowaries for the conservation of their species.
“Our first cassowary chick, Fergo, is doing really well and loves eating blueberries! The chick is spending time in a purpose-built area at Australia Zoo, where guests can see him exploring,” Natalie said.
“The two other newly hatched chicks are currently spending time with their Dad, following Kevin wherever he goes. They will continue to rest, giving them the time to grow and develop their long legs,” she said.
