Cassowary, world’s 'most dangerous bird', kills owner in Florida

Our Foreign Staff
Cassowaries stand up to 6 feet tall and weigh up to 130 pounds - AP
Cassowaries stand up to 6 feet tall and weigh up to 130 pounds - AP

A cassowary, considered the world’s most dangerous bird, attacked and killed its owner when the man fell on his farm in Florida.

The large, flightless bird, which is native to Australia and New Guinea, was thought to have used  its long claws as it killed the man on Friday on the property near Gainesville, the Alachua County Fire Rescue Department said.

The victim, identified as Marvin Hajos, 75, was apparently breeding the birds, state wildlife officials said.

"My understanding is that the gentleman was in the vicinity of the bird and at some point fell. When he fell, he was attacked," Deputy Chief Jeff Taylor told the Gainesville Sun. He said first responders got a call at 10am on Friday and rushed the man to a hospital for trauma care but he died.

"Initial information indicates that this was a tragic accident for Mr. Hajos," said Lt. Brett Rhodenizer, a sheriff’s office spokesman, in an email to the paper. "The cassowary involved remains secured on private property at this time."

Cassowaries have a four-inch, dagger-like claw on each foot  - Credit: EPA
Cassowaries have a four-inch, dagger-like claw on each foot Credit: EPA

Cassowaries are similar to emus and stand up to 6 feet tall and weigh up to 130 pounds, with black body feathers and distinctive, bright blue heads and necks.

The San Diego Zoo’s website calls the cassowary the world’s most dangerous bird with a four-inch, dagger-like claw on each foot.

"The cassowary can slice open any predator or potential threat with a single swift kick. Powerful legs help the cassowary run up to 31 miles per hour through the dense forest underbrush," the website says.

Cassowaries are eaten in parts of New Guinea. The birds are not raised for food in the US, but are sought after by collectors of exotic birds, according to authorities.

To obtain a mandatory permit, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission requires cassowary owners to have "substantial experience" and meet specific cage requirements, spokeswoman Karen Parker told the newspaper. She said the commission lists the cassowary as a type of wildlife that can "pose a danger to people."