The bird was a mature female in excellent condition and weighing an estimated 60 kilograms.

The injured bird disappeared into thick roadside vegetation and the driver contacted Bramston Beach conservationist Mr Russell Constable, with a request to find the cassowary and contact the relevant authorities.

At 2.20 pm Mr Constable found the injured cassowary sitting in a rainforest creek and contacted Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation (C4) representative Liz Gallie, who in turn contacted the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. Ms Gallie relayed essential information from her office whilst Mr Constable focussed on monitoring the injured cassowary until help arrived.

Veterinarian, Dr Tom Gough, from Innisfail Tully Veterinary Surgery arrived on the scene and administered a tranquiliser so the injured bird could be moved out of the creek and examined thoroughly. The injured cassowary was found to have a severed foot and at 3.15 Dr Gough acted promptly to euthanize the injured cassowary.

Two Queensland Parks and Wildlife officers arrived shortly after the examination and removed the dead cassowary from the site.

Mr Constable said:

"Unfortunately this bird stepped out of thick roadside vegetation in a wildlife corridor that has an 80km/h speed limit, leaving the driver with little opportunity to take evasive action."

"The gentleman who struck the cassowary has my sincere thanks for ensuring the accident was reported. He saved this bird from a slow and painful death and I believe it is not uncommon for people to drive away after such incidents."

"Bramston Beach cassowaries belong to Innisfail's Graham Range population and they are impacted by vehicle strike, dog attacks, habitat fragmentation/loss and of course coastal development such as the proposed Ella Bay resort complex and urban development".

"We only have approximately 1500 of these magnificent endangered birds left in Australia and this is a tragic loss not just for our small Bramston Beach community but it is a loss for all Australians"

QPWS officers who arrived on the scene were impressed by the condition of this large female bird and said that DNA samples would be given to scientists to help them with their research into Australia's endangered southern cassowary.

For more information contact;

Russell Constable

0447 674250

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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