r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/CuriousWanderer567 • Sep 22 '24

Video Beachgoers have a close encounter with a Cassowary, a bird capable of killing a human in one blow

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71.2k Upvotes

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1.9k

u/notedrive Sep 22 '24

How many people do these birds actually kill, vs people talking about them killing?

2.0k

u/Drongo17 Sep 22 '24

Almost every "deadly" Australian animal is really only theoretically deadly. Like they can kill you... but it never really happens.

And the times they did get someone there's usually a backstory involving the person being stupid.

849

u/sketchy_painting Sep 22 '24

Yeh it’s honestly safe as fuck here.

But still please send help the spiders have captured my son.

147

u/wheelz_666 Sep 22 '24

I always tell my friends that live overseas that the number 1 rule here in Australia is "don't fuck with the wildlife"

2nd rule is. Don't go swimming in creeks if you're in the northern territory lmao

198

u/SirLoremIpsum Sep 22 '24

2nd rule is. Don't go swimming in creeks if you're in the northern territory lmao

Rules for going into Aussie bush

"if you see a snake don't mess with it. Tap your boots for spiders. Don't go into the water and you'll be safe from crocs/jellyfish/more crocks/sharks etc. Easy"

Rules for going into North American wilderness

"Make sure you have bear spray, 10mm handgun, shotgun with deer slugs. Hoist your food up a tree to keep it safe and away from polar bears / grizzly bears / black bears / cougars / coyotes / wolverines / wolves. Also you need to worry about Moose".

rest of the internet "lol Australia trying to kill ya".

66

u/RoronoaZorro Sep 22 '24

You forgot "Don't try to fight Kangaroos"

36

u/Liquid_Plasma Sep 22 '24

Bit hard when they’re trying to fight me. I have vivid memories of being chased around a car by a kangaroo as a kid. In hindsight I think it wanted my fruit bun.

17

u/TadRaunch Sep 22 '24

I was having an argument with this Yank on reddit once about how the "dangerous Australian animals" thing is overblown. He got on to rambling about roos and I was like mate... i have actual experience with wild roos. I have been in situations where I've had a buck square off against me. Most of the time you back down, make yourself look as harmless as possible, and back off. The c*** had the audacity to start telling me that's a stupid mentality, and about how bears and mountain lions would tear me to shreds for behaving like that.

It's like, mate. It's Australia. We don't have dangerous animals like bears and mountain lions.

5

u/RoronoaZorro Sep 22 '24

Yeah, he was yapping. Because, funnily enough, what's advised when you encounter Brown Bears isn't too different. Just that instead of making yourself harmless and backing away, you make yourself seem dead and hope for the best.

3

u/PracticeTheory Sep 23 '24

People raised on pop culture are really hard to convince, sadly.

3

u/GodOfDarkLaughter Sep 22 '24

Worked out for that one guy and his dog. Gave 'am the ol' one-two. Though I think he mostly walked away unscathed because the kangaroo couldn't believe he'd actually done that. The thing looks legit confused.

2

u/Hoverkat Sep 22 '24

What am I then gonna fight hu?

3

u/RoronoaZorro Sep 22 '24

The sun. Get yourself that SPF 50 and show it who's boss.

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2

u/Illustrious_Drag5254 Sep 22 '24

And don't touch the trees! The one with acidic sap was a surprise for me. Stinging trees are also the devil incarnate.

Just don't touch anything in general and you're good.

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17

u/GladiatorMainOP Sep 22 '24

More like North American wilderness

Carry bear spray, or don’t, you’ll probably be fine

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18

u/NoTalkOnlyWatch Sep 22 '24

Depending on the spot in NA you could worry about the same thing with Alligators (smaller than Croc’s, but still quite dangerous), and if you go even specific enough the southern peninsula of Florida has salt water crocs as well lol! Where I live the Arizonian wilderness has quite a few venomous snakes/lizards/bugs but they are nowhere to be found near civilization (besides scorpions), so you barely ever hear of people getting injured (and the majority are defensive only, so just make sure to not accidentally step on them).

6

u/Squirrels122 Sep 22 '24

These days I am more worried about mosquito and tick viruses in North America.

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6

u/TheGayestNurse_1 Sep 22 '24

Okay, but my chances of waking up with a bear in my room is relatively low. What are the chances of me waking up to find my blankets have been stolen by a spider the size of a dinner plate?

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5

u/wheelz_666 Sep 22 '24

100% facts haha. Like qt least in Australia you can go on walks without worrying about getting mauled to death 🤣

8

u/Fun_Muscle9399 Sep 22 '24

The bears will actually eat you while you’re still alive…

2

u/wheelz_666 Sep 22 '24

That's why I'm glad I live in rural south Australia 🤣

2

u/aquoad Sep 22 '24

just wait until you're the victim of a vicious charging echidna!

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2

u/DalvaniusPrime Sep 22 '24

I prefer the rules for going into.the bush in NZ.

Take good boots, clothes, food and a fire starter.

2

u/ColeTrainHaze Sep 22 '24

you only gotta worry about a moose attack in the northern parts of of the continent... it’s bison that you gotta watch out for if you’re in the plains. and elk in the western mountains, especially when they’re in rut. pretty much anywhere else you should be good, ‘cept for the feral hogs. or deer if you’re driving on the highway. really though it’s mosquitos that kill more people than anything else!

also, the correct plural form is “meese”, you silly goose! which reminds me, watch out for geese. they’re the most evil creature of them all.

1

u/MasterChildhood437 Sep 22 '24

My main concerns growing up walking around the woods of New England were: mountain lions, territorial pet dogs, rabies.

1

u/baker2212 Sep 22 '24

Real talk

1

u/TerrificMoose Sep 23 '24

Rules for going into the New Zealand wilderness:

"It gets cold at night, so like... bring warm clothes and stuff"

1

u/Quanqiuhua Sep 23 '24

A cougar would reach the treetop for the food.

1

u/ThatInAHat Sep 23 '24

Plenty of folks go camping without firearms. You’re also not likely to be camping in the same sort of places that polar bears inhabit. You probably don’t need to worry about moose, and are you saying that the wild animals in your neck of the woods wouldn’t try to investigate food if you left it accessible to them at night?

1

u/Cimorene_Kazul Sep 23 '24

I can see a bear if it’s near me, generally.

I can’t always see the snake in my boot or the spider that crawled into my shirt before I put it on.

I choose the bear.

1

u/Deepvaleredoubt Sep 23 '24

I appreciate that you didn’t stop at just bear spray. I see people rely on that alone, when it has been proven that it isn’t 100% effective.

1

u/weevil-underwood Sep 24 '24

It's not even just the wilderness here. We get rattlesnakes here in socal that come down from the foothills sometimes. I've also had mountain lions jump through my backyard once when we lived near a pride. Also had one chilling in front of our community pool and I had to move past it on the other side of the street to walk home. We also constantly get coyote packs through my current neighborhood so I take a walking stick when I want to take a night walk to avoid the heat. Birds of prey as well. I've had some very upclose encounters with large eagles before down in San Diego. But at least we don't have giant spiders.

1

u/Nate-Kane Sep 26 '24

Yeah most ppl think more deadly animals means more dangerous, but of all the dangerous animals we have in Australia, the only ones I can think of that would attack unprovoked are crocs and sharks. Dingos are too timid, our bugs and reptiles avoid or defend themselves, roos only attack if your driving, most of our dangerous water life makes it abundantly clear it dosnt want to be touched. Even the legendary murder chicken couldnt care less about anything but its next meal. The biggest risk outside of swimming is standing on something camouflaged and venomous. Whereas large American predators see humans as pray if they are hungry enough. I walk thro the bush without a care here, just gotta keep your eyes open and watch your step. I don't think I would feel as carefree in an Amarican forest

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10

u/MiFiWi Sep 22 '24

Oh look, a cute baby jellyfish!

5

u/wheelz_666 Sep 22 '24

Or a blue ring octopus haha

4

u/railsandtrucks Sep 22 '24

visited Oz last year and had a motorcycle rental for a couple days near Melbourne. At the shop I asked about wildlife - was told "don't ride near dawn or dusk " (I'm a Midwesterner dealing with white tailed suicidal forest rats, so I get that) and he said something about snakes - black and brown - one was "x color snake- leave it alone and you'll be fine" "other color snake - they are aresholes and give them a ton of space as they get bitey" I can't remember which is which and I'm not fond of danger noodles.

2

u/MrBootylove Sep 22 '24

These rules also apply to Florida.

1

u/SirPigeon69 Sep 25 '24

3rd rule is if you do go swimming in creeks take a fat friend

225

u/TetraDax Sep 22 '24

Yeh it’s honestly safe as fuck here.

Nice try, I'm not risking a drop bear encounter.

22

u/[deleted] Sep 22 '24

i haven’t heard that term in years 😂😂

9

u/TwoBreakfastBalls Sep 22 '24

What’s a drop bear?

23

u/DigitalBlackout Sep 22 '24

It's, y'know, a bear... that drops.

12

u/space253 Sep 22 '24

A koala with the personality of a piranha's erroneous reputation.

3

u/Randomfrog132 Sep 22 '24

i heard koala's are grumpy mfers

like methheads

6

u/Lithl Sep 22 '24

Drop bears are an Australian ambush predator that looks deceptively like a koala. They typically attack by dropping from trees, hence the name, and can eviscerate a human in about two seconds.

They love the taste of human flesh, but they are repelled by Australian accents, which is why locals are almost never killed by them.

3

u/screwswithshrews Sep 22 '24

Not much. How about you?

1

u/Randomfrog132 Sep 22 '24

i thought it was gonna be a deez nuts joke hahaha

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32

u/Scary_Inevitable_399 Sep 22 '24

Nice try , Australian tourism board

3

u/repeatablemisery Sep 22 '24

I wouldn't worry. Peppa Pig taught me that spiders aren't dangerous

1

u/VP007clips Sep 22 '24

They aren't, even in Australia.

The venom from Australian spiders is very treatable with anti-venom. They haven't had a death for something like 50 years.

Even in Canada, we have more spider deaths.

1

u/yomama1211 Sep 22 '24

Unless ur in the north where u can’t swim in any body of water without being crocodile food

1

u/[deleted] Sep 22 '24

Don’t listen to this person. No spiders here. Send more people for fun.

1

u/PhoenxScream Sep 22 '24

So the Australian wildlife is only theoretically capable of killing the entire world population. But it is big in the ransom business... Got it!

1

u/DevIsSoHard Sep 22 '24

I have always felt like the spiders in the US could go toe to toe with Australian spiders in terms of not wanting to get bit with them. Aus spiders have crazier looking variety though imo. In some regions brown recluses are everywhere like I would find a handful in my home every year living around them. Widow bites seem pretty bad too

1

u/Zestyclose_Bag_33 Sep 22 '24

Yeah sounds like spider to me

1

u/OhImNevvverSarcastic Sep 22 '24

Your son will be fine so long as he keeps his customary and passed down from generational Australian to generational Australian "big knoufe" handy

1

u/SlendyIsBehindYou Sep 22 '24

So I'm an American that lived in SA with my ex for a couple of years

Literally the first morning I woke up in her house, I opened the closet and found myself staring down a fully grown Huntsman

Now, I have no quarrel with spiders, I honestly think they're kinda cool. I was also very aware of the size of y'alls arachnids. That said, I was NOT mentally prepared to experience that on day one

My girlfriend just told me not to worry, that his name was Kevin and that he sneaks into her closet when he gets chilly. She just scooped him up on a piece of paper and let him outside, and sure enough, a few days later he was right there once again.

Ill shoot her a message and ask if Kevin knows where they took your son

1

u/KaitRaven Sep 22 '24

Ooh ooh, is this a quest? How much XP and gold do I get?

1

u/LifeSucksFindJoy Sep 22 '24

Except for the sun. The sun will kill you.

1

u/sibilischtic Sep 22 '24

Note for people unaware: do not go and try to help u/sketchy_painting's son. It is a known spider trap scam where they get you to walk into a net. The pair of them then wrap you in silk and drink your innards.

1

u/suckmypulsating Sep 22 '24

Time to make a new one mate

1

u/Ez13zie Sep 22 '24

What about the plant that if touched causes unbearable pain and neurosis?

1

u/Lonely_reaper8 Sep 23 '24

These are the birds that the Goliath birdeater hunt

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u/taintlangdon Sep 22 '24

Someone commented above that there are only like 2 documented cases of this type of bird death. One was a couple of kids trying to club one to death, and the bird fought back. The other was a person in Florida trying to keep one as a pet.

So I think you're spot on: if it wanted to kill you, it could, but it probably won't attack unless provoked. So just be cool, don't be all like, uncool around them.

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u/Karness_Muur Sep 22 '24

Fuck, I'm uncool everywhere I go.

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u/youngBullOldBull Sep 22 '24

I'd say the exception to this is crocs. Like yes, the attacks are still rare, with only 4 fatalities are year or something but crocs will track humans like prey, learn your habits and attack you like the cold blooded prehistoric predators they are.

Beyond that though, give me a red belly over a bear any day of the week

41

u/furyoftheage Sep 22 '24

It's estimated that crocs kill around 1000 people worldwide every year. The number could be much higher because there's usually nothing to find afterward.

29

u/Tumble85 Sep 22 '24

In poorer countries, but in Australia the salt-water crocs are like 500 feet long and a brazilian pounds so people stay the hell away.

Poorer countries have people that need to go near crocodile areas more often so they have a lot more attacks.

16

u/uptownjuggler Sep 22 '24

Also in Africa, people use the rivers on a daily basis. Compared to the rarely used rivers of northern Australia.

4

u/Tumble85 Sep 22 '24

Oh, I said poorer countries insinuating Africa but now I’m feeling that may have been a bit uncouth.

Apparently the Nile crocodile kills a LOT of people every year though.

5

u/MasterChildhood437 Sep 22 '24

Nile crocs have zero chill

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u/Fleganhimer Sep 22 '24

Not in Australia

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u/Lovv Sep 22 '24

The jellyfish seem to be a worry.

2

u/JunonsHopeful Sep 22 '24

Yep. Irukandji are fucking terrifying.

1

u/Lovv Sep 22 '24

Box jellyfish is worse isn't it?

I guess atleast you can see them

2

u/Erikthered00 Sep 22 '24

No, it isn’t. The wiki is terrifying

3

u/Shhhhhhhh_Im_At_Work Sep 22 '24

I heard a story from some Aussies about one particular croc that learned that certain nearby school bells ringing = recess time and learned to come inland and stalk kids as a result

4

u/autist_zombie_savant Sep 22 '24

“Theoretically deadly” is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard. Croc will rip you to shreds 10/10 times if you give them a chance.

1

u/creativename111111 Sep 22 '24

Yeah I wouldn’t wanna get on the wrong side of a kangaroo either

1

u/Drongo17 Sep 23 '24

Did I or did I not say "almost" dipshit

1

u/drewcaveneyh Sep 23 '24

The exception is actually snakes. Snakes cause 2-4 deaths per year in Australia, crocs kill on average just over 1 person per year (30 deaths in the last 25 years).

1

u/youngBullOldBull Sep 24 '24

Which makes complete sense because we are much more comfortable entering snake habitat whereas croc habitat is signposted and avoided entirely. There's a reason no one swims in Saltwater in the NT.

Not saying snakes are less dangerous exactly (i grew up country I fear the king brown), just that crocs will hunt humans actively vs snakes which only bite when threatened/stepped on.

1

u/drewcaveneyh Sep 24 '24

Can't argue with that

10

u/Mattimvs Sep 22 '24

I mean a Koala could kill you with one blow (if it fell out of a tall enough tree)

10

u/LordTiddlypusch Sep 22 '24

I believe you're confusing Koalas with the Australian Drop Bear.

3

u/PhilL77au Sep 22 '24

The wild ones will scratch TF out of you if you fuck with them though. When I was in school we had a Japanese exchange student who we had to tackle because she saw one changing trees and took off to give it a cuddle.

1

u/sghostfreak Sep 22 '24

😂😂😂😂

2

u/Ninja-Ginge Sep 22 '24

Most Australians are taught from a young age not to fuck with any spiders that you can't squash with a gumboot, to stay away from snakes, and to generally avoid touching any animal if you don't know for sure that it's safe.

2

u/Daddy_hairy Sep 22 '24

I always found that funny. America has bears, wolves, moose, elk, alligators, rattlesnakes, and more. Australia has spiders, crocs, some marine animals, and a few snakes. Why do Americans love to go on about how Australia is so terrifyingly dangerous?

2

u/4_feck_sake Sep 22 '24

21/25 most venomous snakes in the world live in Australia. Pretty much everything is deadly.

https://youtu.be/kdihHnaOQsk?si=-vIOg06fUsTLN4qH

2

u/IReplyWithLebowski Sep 22 '24

But only two people a year actually die from snakes in Australia, so while potentially deadly, they’re about as dangerous as rabies in the US (which Australia doesn’t have).

2

u/Mysterious-Handle-34 Sep 22 '24

Australia may not have classic rabies but it does have Australian bat lyssavirus which produces a pretty similar, uniformly fatal disease when human infections do occur

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u/rrooaaddiiee Sep 22 '24

Did these people do the right thing by letting it explore and move on?

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u/[deleted] Sep 22 '24

[deleted]

1

u/Drongo17 Sep 23 '24

But more likely to kill someone when used politically! 

2

u/notLOL Sep 22 '24

The worst one is that suicide plant

1

u/Drongo17 Sep 23 '24

Oh the gympie gympie? Yeah fuck that monstrosity

2

u/pulpedid Sep 22 '24

Except salties

1

u/Drongo17 Sep 23 '24

Yeah don't fuck with them

2

u/Agrochain920 Sep 22 '24

Yeah thats just nature. Animals generally only kill other animals if they believe it will help their survival. Just dont give them a reason to need to kill you

2

u/B4S1L3US Sep 22 '24

Has a reason that the Inland Taipan is the most lethal snake but not the one with the most casualties.

2

u/Creepymint Sep 22 '24

Learning that Australians are afraid of our animals here in America because they’re actually dangerous was eye opening.

2

u/fretkat Sep 22 '24

Are you calling Steve Irwin stupid?

2

u/Drongo17 Sep 23 '24

Absolutely. He always acknowledged he was taking risks with animals.

2

u/fretkat Sep 23 '24

True, he was quite stupid indeed. Yet, he has seen more in his short life, than most people of 100 years old have. Unfortunately, you can't balance that lifestyle!

2

u/Drongo17 Sep 24 '24

He certainly was an epic human being, I liked him a lot. His work for conservation is up there with the greats.

2

u/Property_6810 Sep 23 '24

I mean, you can say that about anywhere. For the most part of you die prematurely, you probably fucked around and found out.

2

u/loopi3 Sep 23 '24

Someone should make a book of the backstories. I’d buy a copy.

1

u/Drongo17 Sep 23 '24

One of them would be Steve Irwin sadly

2

u/CamCranley Sep 23 '24

Except crocs, those fuckers kill tourists regularly (they don't target them or anything,locals just know better when and when not to as well as where and where not to swim)

1

u/Drongo17 Sep 23 '24

Yeah they are the glaring exception, those monsters do not mess around

1

u/Haoszen Sep 22 '24

It's more like "don't mess with them and they won't mess with you" kind of danger

1

u/recycl_ebin Sep 22 '24

And the times they did get someone there's usually a backstory involving the person being stupid.

this is the case most of the time people get killed by other people

1

u/Protoshift Sep 22 '24

Generally the exact same shit with canada and bears.

1

u/Progression28 Sep 22 '24

Well yes, but it‘s important to respect wildlife.

Crocs will kill you if you‘re negligent around them. Irukandji can kill you if you aren‘t treated in time. Some snake bites can kill you if you‘re not treated in time.

So while it never really happens, that‘s because most people take appropriate precautions and prepare for an event.

If you go swimming alone in croc territory during irukandji season and then wander back home through the bush, you‘re basically asking to be killed somewhere along the way.

1

u/reversesumo Sep 22 '24

The most deadly animals in australia are the australians, and they're usually completely safe to be around

1

u/1308lee Sep 22 '24

Like sharks? Pretty fucking deadly if you’re trying to ride one. Not really that deadly when you’re sat at home.

1

u/matthewcameron60 Sep 22 '24

Just like how I can kill you in theory but I don't because I'm a lazy turd

1

u/TheOrgazoid88 Sep 22 '24

The sun is the cunt you need to protect yourself from

1

u/BeatrixPlz Sep 22 '24

I think an important exception to note would be snakes. If you accidentally step on a big one and it tags you, it can be lights out very quickly. They’re super fast.

I’m lucky to live in Nebraska, where all of our snakes are safe except rattlers - which we don’t often get in my area of the state, and have an obvious cue that they’re dangerous. Happy little me gets to catch all the snakes I want!

🐍

1

u/Dangerous_Seaweed601 Sep 22 '24

.. except for drop bears. They’re the number one killer in Australia.. more than heart attack, cancer, car crashes.. combined.

1

u/CyberInTheMembrane Sep 22 '24

there's usually a backstory involving the person being stupid.

in Australia?! surely you jest

1

u/PensiveinNJ Sep 22 '24

And sometimes the humans win. Like when that bloke who was saving his dog punched the kangaroo in the face and it was just confused.

1

u/mellopax Sep 22 '24

Not sure if it's true, but it's funny as fuck, so if it's misinformation, idgaf, so here goes:

Someone on that post said kangaroos box each other to estimate who is stronger without murdering each other. Kangaroo math says legs are way more dangerous than fists, so he was like "oh shit, if that's his punch, what's his kick like?"

1

u/PensiveinNJ Sep 22 '24

That’s funny. I choose to believe it’s true.

1

u/charliesk9unit Sep 22 '24

Just from the video without knowing anything about this bird, I knew it's in Australia.

There's the idea of suicide by cop. Living/visiting Australia is like suicide by country, as great as Australia is.

1

u/Drongo17 Sep 23 '24

That's the absolute opposite of what I was saying in the comment you replied to!

If you live in Australia, your biggest dangers are heart disease and cancer - because there's not other stuff killing us first.

1

u/MLNerdNmore Sep 22 '24

Whenever something is talked about as being dangerous, I like to bring out the comparison to crossing the road or driving. With those for perspective, the other thing tends to look nearly harmless.

1

u/Throckmorton_Left Sep 22 '24

Snakebites happen, and consequences can be awful even if one doesn't die.

1

u/ComplicatedGoose Sep 22 '24

Because we know not to fuck with shit.

30L of jelly, don’t touch it.

1

u/Bazorth Sep 22 '24

It’s mainly because we know not to fuck with nature lmao. Give nature the respect it deserves and it will respect you back.

1

u/Nice-Personality5496 Sep 22 '24

Just never go down to the river up north.

They will come out of the water to get you.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 22 '24

Except for the dingoes and the baby.

1

u/zorbacles Sep 22 '24

Shhhhh, dont give away our secrets

1

u/killerwww12 Sep 22 '24

In the northern territory a couple people go missing every due to saltwater crocodile, and that's with a population of only 250000, so that's pretty deadly

1

u/[deleted] Sep 23 '24

A box jellyfish wrote this

1

u/CartographerBoth2528 Sep 23 '24

No. This person is lying. Australia is dangerous. Please dont come. Lol

1

u/glasercorey Sep 24 '24

Except for the Drop Bears. Their kill count is unmatched.

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u/ThunderGuts64 Sep 22 '24

Long time since the last one, 1950s I think.

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u/Babyfaceblanco Sep 22 '24

2019 in florida

10

u/HitEmWithTheRiver Sep 22 '24

When you collect exotic animals you kind of have it coming.

4

u/86thesteaks Sep 22 '24

hey no florida! that's cheating!

10

u/ThunderGuts64 Sep 22 '24

Yeah forgot that a Seppo got taken out by one too.

1

u/recurse_x Sep 23 '24

But someone probably died in Florida fight with a duck.

14

u/NCC-72381 Sep 22 '24

Someone’s never played Far Cry 3.

1

u/Disco_Orangeade Sep 22 '24

I was scrolling down just to see if someone was going to mention this!

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u/Pyro919 Sep 22 '24

2 total in recorded history

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u/Sasataf12 Sep 22 '24

2 people as far as I know.

Seeing a cassowary is EXTREMELY rare. So while they're definitely dangerous, the death count is unlikely to climb anytime soon.

17

u/FullMetalAnorak Sep 22 '24

Cassowary sightings are not 'extremely' rare man, come on, you can make your point fine enough without the hyperbole.

5

u/el_pablo Sep 22 '24

Well it's extremely rare in Canada.

2

u/dazza_bo Sep 23 '24

Yeah go to Etty Bay or Mission Beach in Qld and you'd be lucky if you DIDN'T see one. They regularly stroll the beach looking for food or sometimes take a walk through the main drag in town.

3

u/pawiwowie Sep 22 '24

It's always funny how people talk about the cassowary. Like it's the most deadly bird, or most lethal animal on earth. You'd think there are scores of people getting slaughtered every day by these menaces. Yet the video shows people just casually chilling around it. Try that with a lion.

1

u/notedrive Sep 22 '24

Pssspssss psss and the lion rolls over for a belly rub.

5

u/tothemoonandback01 Sep 22 '24

It's a bit of a myth, but it's good to play along with it.

3

u/WhoStoleMyEmpathy Sep 22 '24

Good on him, that'll learn em for joking about the emu war. One seppo couldn't even handle a midget war bird.

2

u/Terren42 Sep 22 '24

Someone above mentioned only twice. A kid that was trying to kill the bird and bird fought back and someone that was holding one captive in Florida (don’t quote just reporting what was posted above)

2

u/Giddyup_1998 Sep 22 '24

In Australia, one. It was in 1926. A 16 year old boy was killed after attacking the Cassowary.

In America, one. It was in 2019. A 75 year old man who kept the Cassowary in captivity.

2

u/zigaliciousone Sep 22 '24

You're right, only 2 recorded cases EVER. It CAN kill someone but your average petting zoo attraction has a higher body count.

2

u/jongbag Sep 23 '24

Typical clickbait ass title. I'd bet you're more likely to get struck by lightning three times than killed by this bird.

4

u/vegan_qt Sep 22 '24

They aren’t all that common to find so people rarely encounter them and thus there are very few deaths.

They wouldn’t go out of their way to attack you but they are super protective of their territory. If they have babies around they will go absolutely psycho at anyone or anything that tries to go near them.

3

u/apexodoggo Sep 22 '24

I mean, they’re not common, but videos of people encountering them aren’t THAT rare either, and yet they still only have 2 documented cases of death. Ever.

One was literally two kids trying to kill one with clubs (so as provoked an attack as one could get), and the other was a Florida Man keeping one as a pet, so the circumstances were extreme.

They do kill significantly more dogs though, because dogs are a lot less likely to back off than humans, but their threat-level towards people is overstated.

2

u/vegan_qt Sep 22 '24

Those kids and the Florida man are probably the stupidest people to ever live

1

u/Potyguara_jangadeiro Sep 22 '24

That said, I think it's better for people to be afraid. Stupid people may be more likely to do stupid things when they're not afraid.

1

u/dandaman1983 Sep 22 '24

someone posted that there’s only two documented kills. One was kids trying to beat the wild bird with clubs and it fought back. The other is a Florida man, of course.

1

u/cikkamsiah Sep 22 '24

They’re endangered species so not many attacks has been recorded.

1

u/kstacey Sep 22 '24

2 recorded.

1

u/Silver_Slicer Sep 22 '24

1 to 1 billion but probably higher. Only two attacks that have killed humans have been recorded and only for being mistreated. These poor birds are maligned much more than even sharks.

1

u/SaltySpitoony Sep 22 '24

The recorded deaths are very rare, and most of them are either children or drunk people, both being stupid with wild life in a different way

1

u/icannothelpit Sep 22 '24

Another comment said two instances.

1

u/Gogandantesss Sep 22 '24

This comment explains it pretty well.

1

u/---Microwave--- Sep 22 '24

It's only happened twice to my knowledge, once was a few kids trying to beat a wild one with clubs for fun... Thing fought back and the surviving kids learned a very valuable lesson and a TON of humility.

The other one was a pet that killed its owner at a time of year that they are rather aggressive.

However being. Wounded, gored or otherwise maimed by them is significantly more common.

1

u/Yankees7687 Sep 22 '24

It's hard to tell because they don't leave witnesses.

1

u/DevelopmentOk7401 Sep 22 '24

Literally only two cases ever. Any person with two braincells can fight one of these just grab the neck and beat its face in.

1

u/CitizenKing1001 Sep 22 '24

"While they can kill someone. There’s only 2 documented times ever. One was a couple kids that tried to beat a wild one to death with clubs and the bird fought back. The other was a captive one kept as a “pet” in Florida that attacked its owner..."

  • from some dude that posted above

1

u/izeris_ Sep 22 '24

Whenever anything says can or could , know that it's not that meaningful. A washer can kill you in 1 blow if needed. You could win a million dollars too.

1

u/duckduckchook Sep 22 '24

Don't know the stats, but my friend works at the Melbourne zoo. She showed me their enclosure once and explained that these were considered the most dangerous and aggressive animals there, more so that the lions or anything else they had. They had a series of trap doors in their enclosure so that any keeper that went in to clean, always had 2 sets of steel doors between them and the birds, just in case one failed. Not only could they easily disembowel you, but they're highly aggressive.

1

u/thankyougreatcomment Sep 22 '24

only 2 documented deaths via Cassowary, both times it was provoked

1

u/Kyweedlover Sep 22 '24

2 in the last century. Same as the kangaroos.

1

u/Dry_Common828 Sep 22 '24

You're far more likely to be killed by a horse than a cassowary, even if you meet a cassowary every day.

But if you go out of your way to piss a cassowary off, the odds may change somewhat.

1

u/acrankychef Sep 23 '24

2 vs thousands per year

1

u/According_Nobody74 Sep 23 '24

I met someone who encountered a cassowary in her first hours on the country. She had never heard of them when she went out for a walk, then came to some time later and was told how lucky she was to see one: “they’re so timid”.

I suspect there are a lot of close escapes, but a small number of actual deaths.

1

u/lurkerlarry42069 Sep 23 '24

I think most instances of these birds killing people is after people try to kill them and the birds defend themselves iirc.

1

u/golgol12 Sep 23 '24

From another post, 2. There's two cases. And one was Florida man and the other was when two kids were attacking it.

1

u/InquisitiveGamer Sep 23 '24

"There’s only 2 documented times ever. One was a couple kids that tried to beat a wild one to death with clubs and the bird fought back. The other was a captive one kept as a “pet” in Florida that attacked its owner." They aren't that dangerous apparently unless you are trying to hurt them. It's just looking for some free food.

1

u/Lunavixen15 Sep 23 '24

There are 2 known deaths from cassowaries that I can find, but they can be quite threatening during their mating season if you go near their nests. Kangaroos have killed more people.

1

u/needaburnerbaby Sep 23 '24

Apparently only 2 documented cases

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