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World's Most Dangerous Bird Lays Some Long-Awaited Eggs
Newser • • world
Key Points:
- Adelaide Zoo has successfully achieved cassowary breeding for the first time in 34 years, with Martina, a 10-year-old southern cassowary, laying two bright green eggs and a possible third on the way.
- This breeding success is significant as fewer than 10 cassowary chicks have hatched in Australian zoos over the past decade, offering hope for the conservation of the threatened species, which has about 4,500 individuals left in the wild.
- Cassowaries are solitary and considered among the world's most dangerous birds, requiring careful, managed introductions between mates, likened by the zoo director to the unpredictability of online dating.
- It is not yet confirmed if the eggs are fertilized; male cassowary Jeffrey will incubate the eggs for approximately 50 days, with keepers maintaining minimal interference during this period.
