Alligator. Of the attacks, 73% involved the birds expecting or snatching food, 5% involved defending their natural food sources, 15% involved defending themselves from attack, and 7% involved defending their chicks or eggs. Only one human death was reported among those 150 attacks. Wilderness medicine society practice guidelines for basic wound management in the austere environment: 2014 update. Florida Man Killed by Giant Exotic Bird With Dagger-like Claws. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. I've also encountered references to the death of a zookeeper named Luke James who was apparently killed by a captive cassowary, but have only read about this online and am not sure as to its reliability (readers: please let me know if have access to any further information on this case). The victim was able to climb out of the pen. Cassowaries are certainly striking to look at, with a vivid blue face, two red wattles (flaps of skin) hanging from their neck and a hollow "helmet", known as a casque, atop their heads. Cassowaries dislike dogs and will attack them without provocation, presumably because feral dogs and dingos often prey on cassowaries. Cassowary has muscular legs with three claw-tipped toes that can give you a pretty strong punch. Ill finish with one last observation. * Bits of children have been discovered beneath the nests of African crowned eagles Stephanoaetus coronatus, but were not totally sure that the eagles did the killing. How we can build a clean and renewable future. Eagles can leave you with a 2-inch gash in your skin. No matter how rare a traumatic event causing significant bodily injury, following the MARCH mnemonic, and looking for specific physiologic problems, will save lives. Muscular legs that can pack a powerful kick terminate with three claw-tipped toes. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6927831/Florida-man-75-killed-worlds-dangerous-bird-did-not-permit-animal.html. Though size varies across the three different species (see end of article), cassowaries can stand up to 2 m (6 ft 6 in) tall and weigh as much as 60 kg (132 lb) the equivalent of six mute swans, which are the heftiest birds native to the UK. Using the Massive hemorrhage, Airway, Respirations, Circulation, Head injury/Hypothermia (MARCH) mnemonic, we will discuss evaluation and treatment of specific injuries caused by animal attacks including punctures, lacerations, and fractures, that require intervention prior to the arrival of medical transport. [13] The taxonomic name C. (b) papuanus also may be in need of revision to Casuarius (bennetti) westermanni. Powerful legs helpful the cassowary run that fast through a dense forest. Human feeding would thus appear to have modified cassowary behaviour and in fact cassowaries are naturally wary and highly unlikely to attack without provocation. Journal of Zoology 249, 375-381. [20] The male cassowary defends a territory of about 7km2 (1,700 acres) for himself. The San Diego Zoo's website calls cassowaries the world's most dangerous bird with a four-inch, dagger-like claw on each foot. The Alachua County Sheriff's office. His family this week declined to discuss the accident. 2nd Impeachment Trial: What this could mean for Trump, Presidential transition of power: Examined, How Donald Trump spent his last days as president, How Joe Biden's inauguration will be different from previous years, Trump challenges the vote and takes legal action, 2020s DNC and RNC are different than any before, Power Trip: Those Who Seek Power and Those Who Chase Them, Leave No Trace: A Hidden History of the Boy Scouts, Keeper of the Ashes: The Oklahoma Girl Scout Murders, The Orphans of COVID: America's Hidden Toll, X / o n e r a t e d - The Murder of Malcolm X and 55 Years to Justice, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. [37][38] They are the only indigenous Australasian animal known to have been partly domesticated by people prior to European arrival and colonization. Close up of the powerful leg and claw of a Cassowary. They are good swimmers, crossing wide rivers and swimming in the sea. Of 221 attacks studied, 150 were against humans. [17] Validation of these subspecies has proven difficult due to individual variations, age-related variations, the scarcity of specimens, the stability of specimens (the bright skin of the head and neckthe basis of describing several subspeciesfades in specimens), and the practice of trading live cassowaries for thousands of years, some of which are likely to have escaped or been deliberately introduced to regions away from their origin.[13]. These birds can become dangerous and aggressive when they lose their natural fear of us. Emergency services providers never know what they will see when they arrive on scene. In four of the seven previously documented attacks resulting in serious injury, the cassowary jumped on top of the victim.2 This likely occurred in this case based on the number of lacerations and abrasions on the body. [27], Adult cassowaries have no natural enemies other than humans, but their chicks are vulnerable to large pythons, monitor lizards, New Guinea singing dogs, and Papuan eagles. Besides fruits, their diet includes flowers, fungi, snails, insects, frogs, birds, fish, rats, mice, and carrion. Cassowaries are predominantly frugivorous, but omnivorous opportunistically when small prey is available. [citation needed]. Follow Darren Naish on Twitter. Standing between 1.5 and 2 metres in height and weighing anywhere from 110 pounds to over 160 pounds, the cassowary has been named the heaviest bird in Australia. https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/cassowary. Adult southern cassowaries are 1.5 to 1.8m (4ft 11in to 5ft 11in) tall, although some females may reach .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}2m (6ft 6+12in),[19] and weigh 58.5kg (130lb). When confronted with a charging cassowary its clearly unwise to crouch or turn ones back on the bird. The bird's owner, Marvin Hajos -. These birds fight by kicking each other with their sharp claws and roaring loudly. [28], As for eating the cassowary, it is supposed to be quite tough. I write SEO content and graphic design. Click to see more animals in the Active Wild Online Zoo Quick Cassowary Facts. Kofron and Chapman, when they assessed the decline of this species, found that of the former cassowary habitat, only 2025% remains. While in the OR, he went into traumatic arrest, was resuscitated, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries within a few hours. Stay calm and focused while slowly backing away from the bird. Due to the extensive thoracic injuries, an exploratory thoracotomy and laparotomy were performed. Thanks for reading Scientific American. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "Cassowary casques act as thermal windows." Diagrams of injuries to Marvin Hajos, 75, show more than a dozen lacerations across his face, neck, back, abdomen, thighs, legs and right arm, including damage to his brachial artery, the major blood vessel of the upper arm. In most cases, however, you will need to face the threat head-on and prepare for the worst. The cut was large and struck the teenagers jugular vein, and he was unable to survive the attack. [22], All three species have a keratinous, skin-covered casque on their heads that grows with age. Dogs are a big threat to young cassowaries and can also stress out adults, leading to aggression. Every person in the wilderness should have a tourniquet in their first aid kit as well as the ability to jury-rig at least one more. My understanding is that the gentleman was in the vicinity of the bird and at some point fell. The cassowary can slice open any predator or potential threat with a single swift kick. A cassowary attack can result in deep puncture wounds, slashing cuts, lacerations, and even death. Claims that jogging incites cassowaries to attack (supposedly because the sound of running feet imitates a foot-stamping rival cassowary) do not withstand scrutiny as walking people have been attacked more frequently than joggers. What's concerning is that the dense rainforest habitat favoured by cassowaries particularly on the north-eastern coast of Australia is being diminished by property developers, conversion into farmland and the encroachment of associated infrastructure such as roads and fences. The employee did not know details of the injuries or what had happened, but he speculated exactly: Im sure he got kicked by the cassowary. He's an old man, hes got a lot of issues, he said. Where trees are dropping fruit, cassowaries come in and feed, with each bird defending a tree from others for a few days. Cassowaries are usually shy and non-aggressive towards humans. These multicolored ratites are the second heaviest birds in the world, sometimes weighing in at over 160 pounds (73 kg) and standing nearly six feet tall (1.8m). Cassowaries can bite, although their bite is not considered dangerous. Cassowaries could become aggressive when begging for food or if you approach their eggs or chicks too closely. Cassowaries are unique and fascinating flightless birds from Australia and Papua New Guinea. [24] The "boom" vocalization that cassowaries produce is the lowest-frequency bird call known and is at the lower limit of human hearing. The relatives of cassowaries evolved shortly after the extinct of the dinosaurs and the birds remain one of the closest living relatives to dinosaurs alive today. After man calls 911 and dies, experts say he made a fatal mistake near the worlds most dangerous bird. If they attack, their dagger-like claws can cause fatal injury to your internal organs and cause excessive bleeding. The three-toed feet are thick and powerful, equipped with a lethal dagger-like claw up to 12 cm (4.7 in) on the inner toe. Attacks to humans and domestic animals by the southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii) in Queensland, Australia. They Are Quite Hefty. Female cassowary have larger territories, overlapping those of several males. Scientific reports 9.1 (2019): 1966. Serious injuries resulting from cassowary attacks are most likely to occur if the person is crouching or is lying or has fallen on the ground. The patient had a pulse. There, the birds are more susceptible to encounters with vehicles and dogs. [18], Several functions for the casque have been proposed. This can only result in more human-cassowary encounters going forward. A cassowary, a large emu-like flightless bird, killed a man Friday near Alachua. Naish, D. & Perron, R. 2014. Hypothermia, one leg of the lethal trauma triad along with coagulopathy and acidosis, is the most likely temperature concern after an animal attack due to exposure and hemorrhagic shock. There are no reliable measurements of the Cassowarys kicking power. Published 2019. Woman Who Crashed into Responders, Killing PA Firefighter, Gets Prison, Three Apparent Gas Explosions at San Bernardino (CA) Mountain Homes, Enid (OK) Fire Department Begins SWAT Medic Program to Assist Police, Lufthansa Flight Diverted after Turbulence, Seven Hospitalized, FDNY EMS Providers Win COVID-19-Linked Free Speech Lawsuit, Coronavirus Origins Still a Mystery Three Years into Pandemic. Accessed March 11, 2021. 71% of the time the bird chased or charged the victim. The other two species are represented by the northern cassowary and the dwarf cassowary; the northern cassowary is the most recently discovered and the most threatened. It can even lead to lethal wounds to internal organs and bleeding. [29], Cassowaries are native to the humid rainforests of New Guinea, nearby smaller islands, East Nusa Tenggara, the Maluku Islands, and northeastern Australia. In this article, well break down the facts about Cassowary attacks. They are classified as ratites (flightless birds without a keel on their sternum bones) and are native to the tropical forests of New Guinea (Papua New Guinea and West Papua), Aru Islands (Maluku), and northeastern Australia.[3]. The feet are at the bottom of long legs that bring some cassowary species to a height of nearly six feet tall. Location: Indonesia, New Guinea, north-east Australia, Height: 1.51.8 m (4 ft 11 in5 ft 10 in), Header/thumbnail image credits: Alamy, Shutterstock, Registered Office: Ground Floor, The Rookery, 2 Dyott Street, London, WC1A 1DE, United Kingdom, Otto - Longest human tunnel travelled through by a skateboarding dog, Ashrita Furman - Most Guinness World Records titles held. In Australia, 16-year-old Phillip McClean and his brother, age 13, came across a cassowary on their property and decided to try to kill it by striking it with clubs. Females lay four eggs, which the male incubates for two months and then cares for the chicks nine more months.2 In the 2019 case, police speculated that the male cassowary was protecting the nest. PA EMT Said COVID Patient Didnt Need to Go to the NYC Unions Demand Reinstatement, Back Pay for Workers Fired for Refusing President Biden to End COVID-19 Emergencies on May 11. The unaffected lung has increased ability to function without the pressure of the heart and blood vessels weighing on it. Naish, D. & Perron, R. 2014. There are many records of natives being killed by this bird. Cassowaries are known for their sharp, dagger-shaped claws. Further, a 2006 study found that 75% of cassowary attacks occurred because the animals were being fed by humans. Snooze and you win! Alliance SDZW. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. These birds are large and potentially dangerous animals that can be particularly aggressive when they become comfortable around humans. The fire rescue department in Alachua county told the Gainesville Sun newspaper the cassowary killed the man on Friday on his property near Gainesville, in the north of the state, likely using its long claws. Fresh Take Florida obtained a copy of the autopsy this week under the states public records laws, more than four months after requesting it. With those powerful legs and dagger-like sharp claws, cassowaries are dangerous animals. Continue reading to learn when a Cassowary is most likely to use these dangerous weapons. Wounds should be visualized, cleaned, and dressings placed. My name is Rebecca and I've been a Professional Freelancer for almost a decade. Initial signs of tension pneumothorax include tachycardia, narrowing pulse pressure, diminished or absent breath sounds, severe dyspnea, hypotension and hypoxia. The older McClean then tripped and fell to the ground. So what exactly is a cassowary? A man who kept a cassowary on his farm fell to the ground and the cassowary clawed him to death. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. She Died the Next Day. Some New Guinea Highlands societies capture cassowary chicks and raise them as semi-tame poultry, for use in ceremonial gift exchanges and as food. A cassowary, a giant bird with long claws on each foot, killed its owner after he fell in the backyard of his Gainesville, Florida, home, officials told CNN. Cassowaries are usually shy and elusive birds that avoid contact with humans, so people generally have little to fear. Cassowaries can run up to 31 miles per hour (50 km) and jump seven feet in the air from a standstill, which should give you a picture of how powerful their legs are! [38], Studies on Pleistocene/early Holocene cassowary remains in Papua suggest that indigenous people at the time preferred to harvest eggs rather than adults. However, cassowaries do not attack indiscriminately and a 1999 study by Christopher Kofron (1999) of 221 recorded attacks by Casuarius casuarius johnsonii showed that attacks are mostly due to association of humans with food. If the patient develops a tension pneumothorax, increased air volume shifts the heart and major blood vessels away from the collapsed lung, placing pressure on the remaining good lung, and can lead to death. Baby Cassowaries: All You Need To Know (with Pictures), Where Do Cassowaries Live? Lets dive into the full details below! Many times, the opening in the thorax causes a sucking noise when the patient breathes. Meet the animals that earned records in their sleep, Five fantastic frog facts and records to mark World Frog Day, How to set or break a Guinness World Records title. Puncture wounds of the thorax can cause significant and emergent problems with the respiratory system. This was a cardiac arrest, the report said. Wild Cassowaries are most likely to attack when defending themselves or their eggs and chicks. The Cassowary claw is a deadly weapon. Fruits from the laurel, podocarp, palm, wild grape, nightshade, and myrtle families are important items in the diet. Serious injuries resulting from cassowary attacks are most likely to occur if the person is. A third claw on the inside of the foot is what really draws attention as it reaches up to five inches in length. Cassowaries can be aggressive towards humans and other animals like dogs. In May 2008, an eagle attacked a young boy and mangled his body. The only known case involving a wild bird was the sad death of a teenage boy in 1926. Cassowaries are certainly capable of hurting and even killing people under certain circumstances, however, and it has happened more than once. Cassowaries Have Casques On Their Heads That Grow With Age The cassowary's three-toed foot looks like a dinosaur foot, armored with scales and huge talons. Advertisements. C. casuarius has the largest and C. bennetti the smallest (tricorn shape), with C. unappendiculatus having variations in between. The bird's owner, Marvin Hajos, 75, made the initial call to 911 Friday about 10 a.m. Condor If you've ever been to the zoo, you have probably seen a condor. The bird was a flightless, exotic cassowary being bred. In fact, the deadliest animals of them all are no bigger than your thumbnail. Shortly before they arrived at the hospital his heart restarted, but he died a short time later. Cassowaries have small wings with five or six large remiges. Galvagno SM, Nahmias JT, Young DA. In these cases they are presumably attacking a reflection which they perceive as another cassowary. In the ambulance, as they continued their rescue efforts, his pulse surged as paramedics applied chest compressions, but five minutes later his heart stopped. In the austere setting, there is rarely the equipment to provide a definitive airway, however if the swelling was life threatening and above the cricothyroid membrane, an emergency cricothyrotomy could be done if equipment and an experienced provider are available. Man attacked and killed by 'world's most dangerous bird' The 75-year-old man died from injuries suffered in an attack by a cassowary, a bird with knife-like claws that can weigh more than 100 pounds. Across the past 100 years, there have been two cassowary incidents that turned fatal to humans. [18] A fossil species was reported from Australia, but for reasons of biogeography, this assignment is not certain, and it might belong to the prehistoric Emuarius, which was a genus of cassowary-like primitive emus. His injuries were so severe that he later died in hospital. Bulger EM, Snyder D, Schoelles K, et al. Even after the deadly attack, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has enacted no new rules or restrictions about owning them. As of 2019[update] only Weltvogelpark Walsrode in Germany has all three species of cassowaries in its collection: single-wattled cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus) and Bennett's cassowary (Casuarius bennetti). Just how big is this foot and how deadly is it? Heat Waves Are Killing More LA Homeless People. See Kofron, C. P. 1999. Its always possible to be caught off guard, however, so its worth knowing how to handle yourself if you do ever come face to face with an aggressive Cassowary. Signs that a Cassowary is about to attack. Treat suspected tension pneumothorax with immediate needle decompression (>6 cm long angiocath) in the fourth intercostal space mid-axillary line (preferred in the ATLS 2019 update) or 2nd intercostal space mid-clavicular line.8 If no angiocath is available, a finger thoracostomy can be done in the fourth intercostal space mid-axillary line to relieve pressure as a life-saving maneuver.8, Massive hemothorax can cause similar symptoms to a tension pneumothorax. Few documented Cassowary attacks have resulted in serious injury or death. A man who kept a cassowary on his farm fell to the ground and the cassowary clawed him to death. Core temperatures cannot be replaced by less invasive options. The Cassowary is a very big bird and while it may look essentially harmless, we all know looks can be deceiving. 75% of these were from cassowaries that had been fed by people. the cassowary was sold at the Gulf Coast Livestock Auction. The bird's owner, a 75-year-old man who had raised the animal, was apparently clawed to death after he fell to the ground.[5][47][48][49][50][51]. A cassowary, a giant bird with long claws on each foot, killed its owner after he fell in the backyard of his Gainesville, Florida, home, officials told CNN. Both the newly disclosed autopsy and an interview with a death investigator for the area medical examiner, Bill Grotjahn, indicated that Hajos died from lacerations and bleeding, not any pre-existing circulatory problems. They can be up to 2 meters (6ft) tall and weigh up to 60kg (130lb), with black body feathers and bright blue heads and necks. The victim, whose name was not released, was apparently breeding the birds, state wildlife officials said. LittleThings.com. Keep your distance particularly if an adult is guarding eggs or with chicks. Earlier medical reports said Hajos suffered a cardiac arrest caused by the lacerations and blood loss, as paramedics tried to save him. 3 At some point the male fell, and the bird. Structure and function of the cassowarys casque and its implications for cassowary history, biology and evolution. Cassowaries will also kick or peck at doors and windows, sometimes breaking panes of glass or screen panels. Police found Marvin Hajos badly wounded by the cassowary when they were called to his property on Friday 12 April, with the bird having attacked the man after he fell over. Advanced Trauma Life Support Update 2019: Management and Applications for Adults and Special Populations. Due to concern for pneumothorax from puncture wounds and lacerations to his right chest, needle decompression was performed. These attacks were presumably territorial in motive. Below are the 10 top Cassowary facts. [citation needed], Males are far more tolerant of one another than females, which do not tolerate the presence of other females. The bird's owner, identified as Marvin Hajos, is believed to have fallen down on his property near the city . Cassowaries do not usually attack for no reason. A tweet (embedded below) from a Ph D student showed a striking picture of a cassowary foot. After the attack, the cassowary was sold at the Gulf Coast Livestock Auction. [6] The type species is the southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius). [23] The latter three are disputed by biologist Andrew Mack, whose personal observation suggests that the casque amplifies deep sounds. The best way to avoid an attack is to give these birds the space they deserve and never attempt to feed or harass them. Cassowaries (from Malay: kasuari)[12] are part of the ratite group, which also includes the emu, rheas, ostriches, and kiwi, as well as the extinct moas and elephant birds. These birds are also comfortable in the water and can swim over a mile (1.6km) through the open ocean to reach islands. He had scratches and cuts from the birds sharp claws along his neck, back, and head. In an audio recording of the initial 911 call, also obtained this week, Hajos himself is heard trying to give his address to a dispatcher and pleading, Would you send an ambulance, please? His voice sounded weak and hurried. The dog later died from an apparent intestinal rupture. Even 'pet' Cassowaries will attack their owners, sometimes with fatal consequences. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. Cassowaries also dislike cats. [25] Recent study suggests that casque acts as a thermal radiator, offloading heat at high temperatures and restricting heat loss at low temperatures. The second more recent incident occurred in Florida in 2019. In his 1958 book Living Birds of the World, ornithologist Ernest Thomas Gilliard wrote: The inner or second of the three toes is fitted with a long, straight, murderous nail which can sever an arm or eviscerate an abdomen with ease. Cassowaries that expect or solicit food constitute 73% of attacks. Females lay three to eight large, bright green or pale green-blue eggs in each clutch into a heap of leaf litter prepared by the male. [4][5], The genus Casuarius was erected by French scientist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in his Ornithologie published in 1760. Scientific American is part of Springer Nature, which owns or has commercial relations with thousands of scientific publications (many of them can be found at, The Integrated Maniraptoran, Part 3: Feathers Did Not Evolve in an Aerodynamic Context, Walter Rothschild and the rise and fall of Sclaters cassowary, Getting a major chapter on birds ALL birds into a major book on dinosaurs, The ghosts of extinct birds in modern ecosystems, Controversies from the world of ratite and tinamou evolution (part I), Ratites in trees: the evolution of ostriches and kin, and the repeated evolution of flightlessness (ratite evolution part II). Adult males aggressively defend their chicks. [20], The female does not care for the eggs or the chicks, but rather moves on within her territory to lay eggs in the nests of several other males. We can only speculate about which injury caused the victims death. These birds are large and have powerful legs that can propel them at speeds of over 30 miles per hour (50km/h), so there is no shortage of power there. On April 12, 2019, a 75-year-old male went into the enclosure where two southern cassowaries were kept to collect an egg, when the bird attacked. And for all the hype surrounding cassowary aggression, let us also not forget that it is frequently we speeding along in our vehicles who are a danger to them. All it takes is one swift kick for a cassowary to slice open a large predator. They navigate the dense undergrowth of the jungle by holding their long necks forward with their heads down. Learn all about birds around the world through our growing collection of in-depth expert guides. Cassowary bone, claw, fiber, feather and bead; 15 1/8 5 2 in. The dagger-like cassowary claw can be as long as 4 in! Over 200 attacks are reported in Australia each year. These giant birds are not afraid to use their claws either and are described as unpredictable. When facing trouble a cassowary will claw and kick at potential threats, which has led to multiple human casualties. Discover world-changing science. Cassowaries prefer to charge first, and any vision of giant birds leading with claws five feet in the air is pure fiction. [26], The average lifespan of wild cassowaries is believed to be about 40 to 50 years. With a limb injury, if the first tourniquet doesnt work, place another one more proximal to the body to prevent compartment syndrome. The cassowary slit his throat with . There is evidence that the cassowary may have been domesticated by humans thousands of years before the chicken. Why the cassowary is the world's most dangerous bird By Adam Millward Published 15 April 2019 Last Friday (12 April 2019), a 75-year-old man was attacked by (at least) one of the exotic birds that he rears on his property in Florida, USA. 15-Plus Foods They Love! Cassowaries are a keystone species of rain forests because they eat fallen fruit whole and distribute seeds across the jungle floor via excrement. Feral pigs also are a significant threat to their survival. This case shocked the world when it made the headlines and further cemented the Cassowarys title as the worlds most dangerous bird. This is far worse for these birds than it is for humans, as many are killed by vehicles and dogs every year. Cassowary feet have three toes each with claws on the end (more on those in a moment). Caged birds are regularly bereft of their fresh plumes.[21]. What makes a Guinness World Records title? In the average person with no health problems, a single collapsed lung isnt fatal. [45], The first documented human death caused by a cassowary was on April 6, 1926. Quinn RH, Wedmore I, Johnson EL, et al. Quite the contrary: like most animals, these birds would much rather avoid conflict, only choosing fight over "flight" as a last resort if they feel their lives or those of their young are endangered. The cassowary has solitary habits and breeds less frequently in zoos than other ratites such as ostrich and emu. How did the GameStop stock spike on Wall Street happen? Stay away from eagles nests! As noted above, cassowary feet have three toes that each have a claw on the end. It is important to monitor for respiratory or circulatory system decline due to other internal injuries such as a tension pneumothorax or hemothorax. [13] This claw is particularly fearsome, since cassowaries sometimes kick humans and other animals with their powerful legs. Animal bites: First aid. Adult Cassowaries have few natural enemies, although their eggs and chicks are vulnerable to many reptilian and mammalian predators.