Bramston Beach Cassowary put down after being hit by car

[ArtemisLiliths]

@ellabayforever

Poor cassowary, she must have been pretty far gone if she didn't even object to a human touching her.

It's good to know that she didn't have to suffer, and that the driver who hit her actually stopped and took responsibility.

By the way, how did you determine that it was female? As far as I know there isn't a lot of sexual dimorphism between the two sexes.

[ellabayforever]

@ArtemisLiliths the old bloke that hit her did the right thing alright as it would have been a nasty death if he had just driven on....made a mess of his car too! You are 100% re sexual dimorphism however females are larger birds and maled get a tail that hangs down more than females. She was also full of eggs.This girl was dissected in a british documentary that you can find split in 4 parts by searching you tube "inside natures giants Cassowary"

Thanks for your comments!

[lmjohnsono]

@ellabayforever Definitely good on the driver. And nerves of steel to get that close and touch a living Cassowary. Definitely going to watch the documentary. And I'll give an extra grape to our resident cassy next time I go back to do observations.

[ellabayforever]

@lmjohnsono Yeah The old bloke that hit her made a real effort to find me...I was in the scrub at home setting a trail camera but he wanted to be sure she was found. The doco is excellent and gives a real insight into the anatomy of these huge birds. Its sad to walk along the creeks she used and not see her tracks any more.Thank you for your comments :)

[Aonexia]

I've been looking in the mirror for decades now... wondering these very things Ella; only to come up short when I see what the majority of humans are doing to our beautiful Earth.

To be quite honest with you dear it would take an outside force to curb this species to a grinding hault while directing us unto a much different path. One of greatness for this human species. The other choice is total irradication of the species before we destroy what they have painsfully created.

[Aonexia]

Not suppressed at all..... We humans will eventual kill off every living thing in this world. I so wish we were extinct and left this beautiful world in peace...

[ellabayforever]

@Aonexia we are a part of this beautiful world and though our species does have a nasty habit of killing off living creatures that we fail to value we are also capable of good and kind acts. It all starts with that person in the mirror!

[gnarkillkicksass]

@ellabayforever You did the right thing by stopping. Unfortunate events will happen but unlike a lot of people (mostly backpackers and tourists) you did the best thing for her.

Well done.

[PF718]

It's not the broken neck or spine that could have been fixed but the leg... I'm not angry even if I seem to, I'm just extremely disapointed that no x-rays have been done and no other verification. What is done, is done but I hope that the next time, if it happens (hope it dosen't) they will do a more thourough examination especially if the bird or animal that was hit was able to move its self to another location.

[ellabayforever]

@PF718 Thank you for your comments and I can relate to your frustration, After locating the bird I sat with her and waited for the vet. We sedated her and her leg was completely severed and hanging by some skin pretty much so nothing could be done to save her.She was put down and it was the only option due to the severity of the injury.

[PF718]

@ellabayforever I would have had a hard time waiting for the vet to come, I don't know how you did it? Even if it's not a pet, I still worry for injured animals. Have a nice day!

[ellabayforever]

@PF718 Didn't really have much choice in the matter and just talked to the big girl and kept her company. It was pretty heartbreaking to see the severity of her injuries and know she had to be put down. If you look up Inside natures giants cassowary this bird was dissected on this series and it is well worth watching all 4 episodes! Thank you for your comments and kind message :)

[PF718]

I cannot beleive that the doctor put an endagered species to sleep because of a severe broken leg. O.k. if it had a broken neck or broken spine... it could have been fixed. Yes I know it was suffering, pain killers are there for that, at least until they get to the vets and operate on her leg. Of course the bird cannot be released even if the leg is fine but at least she would have been alive. When healthy, breeding plans could have been done, she could have been the embassador of the zoo, etc.

[julia393n]

@PF718 agree 100 percent. such a waste.

[ThePhantomThylacine]

"She's something else, isn't she?"

That she is...that she is.

So sad to see a marvellous and majestic bird being put down...but at least she didn't suffer for too much longer.

[zlkimagenX]

It's so calm. I know it injured but still it did not even protest at him getting so close.

it's sad to see an animal lose it's will to fight

It most really be in pain. so sad.

[ellabayforever]

Unfortunately the current speed limit through this 2 kilometre wildlife/cassowary corridor is actually 100km/h and at present Cairns Regional Council firmly refuse to lower this speed limit despite this isolated cassowary population being estimated at a mere 16 to 20 adult cassowaries. Published population viability data state this population is on an extinction vortex (Moore 2007). At current threat levels they will be locally extinct in less than 60 years.