Bramston Beach vehicle struck cassowary ...The last hour of its life part 2

[despiertobx]

I think many 100 km/hr roads in Oz should be 80 - many human lives would also be saved. From what I saw, with the custom welded roo-guards and monster trucks- many plow through at 120 to150 with no regard for animals. But this is a special creature that requires extra attention. I met one at the Boulders several times - she was lovely.

[ellabayforever]

@despiertobx Valid comments and appreciated.They are a special animal indeed!

[Gearsparker]

I bet that cassowarry is pissed... If the man had lied and the cassowarry left to die a lingering death, he may have a chance of being fossilized for archaeologists of the distant future to discover!

[deepfast125]

He trying to stop the pain with the ocean water.

Did he die at the end ?

[ellabayforever]

@deepfast125 a vet arrived and after she was tranquilised and we could see the extent of her injuries (leg snapped in half) she had to be put down. It was a sad day and our rain forest here is emptier without her. By the way the water was a rainforest creek and its coldness probably eased the pain a little, I hope it did.

[deepfast125]

@ellabayforever

Ok now she can't stay in the Nature anymore, so I think she is in a close place.

You are right it's sad, however you are doing a good job because these birds need to be protected.

[Snauzer67]

Cairns Regional Council should be ashamed of itself

[ellabayforever]

@Snauzer67 I am pretty disappointed with the actions of Cairns Regional Council as well. One excuse council engineers gave for refusing to lower the legal speed to 80 km/h in this vital cassowary/wildlife corridor was that it may not be policed. Yet during recent bridgework on this same area of road Cairns Regional Council did not hesitate to instal an 80 km/h speed limit to protect their workers! Once the bridgework was complete they then put the speed limit back to 100 km/h. I was lied to!

[Snauzer67]

@ellabayforever Incredible!

[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.

[casaurius]

very sad, I love these birds. It's ashamed that after millions of years of existence, they are finally coming to a end thanks to man.

[ellabayforever]

@casaurius Sad indeed Casaurius and thank you for your comment. Our species does not have a very good track record when it comes to co existing with large birds like the cassowary, I'm thinking Moas and Madagascan elephant bird here! Cheers Russ