Deep in the rainforests of northern Queensland, the Southern Cassowary moves through the landscape quietly, rarely seen. Standing nearly two metres tall, they cut a prehistoric figure—armoured with a towering casque, thick legs, and a flash of blue, purple and red skin that is prominent through the undergrowth. But it’s their quieter role that matters most. As one of the only animals able to swallow and disperse the large seeds of over a hundred rainforest plants, they help shape the forest itself, carrying life through the landscape one step at a time. Despite their strength, they’re vulnerable—roads, dogs, and the steady pressure of habitat loss have pushed them to the brink. To protect the Cassowary is to protect the forest it walks through. One can’t survive without the other.
Deep in the rainforests of northern Queensland, the Southern Cassowary moves through the landscape quietly, rarely seen. Standing nearly two metres tall, they cut a prehistoric figure—armoured with a towering casque, thick legs, and a flash of blue, purple and red skin that is prominent through the undergrowth. But it’s their quieter role that matters most. As one of the only animals able to swallow and disperse the large seeds of over a hundred rainforest plants, they help shape the forest itself, carrying life through the landscape one step at a time. Despite their strength, they’re vulnerable—roads, dogs, and the steady pressure of habitat loss have pushed them to the brink. To protect the Cassowary is to protect the forest it walks through. One can’t survive without the other.
