A rare "dinosaur" bird, considered one of the world's most dangerous, has hatched at a UK zoo. The cassowary, known for its powerful legs, sturdy feet and razor-sharp talons, was born in Devon. Yet, this species has gained notoriety as one of the planet's most dangerous birds.
Indigenous to Australia and New Guinea, the ground-dwelling bird bears a resemblance to a dinosaur. For the first time since 2004, a new chick has emerged at Paignton Zoo in Devon - and is the first across Europe this year. The father, whose name is Madrid, is taking on all the important newborn duties.
The English zoo has also had success in breeding other threatened species recently, such as the pink pigeon, hamerkop, scarlet ibis, crowned cranes and various types of thrush.
A study by Christopher Kofron in 2006 in the Journal of Zoology highlighted just how perilous these birds can really be. He went on to note 221 recorded attacks, with 150 of those against humans.
However, he also mentioned seven serious injuries, including broken bones, lacerations and puncture wounds, as well as one fatal attack.
In these particular cases, the birds had either kicked or jumped on their victims. Meanwhile, the fatality occurred when the victim was trying to kill the cassowary, likely referring to a historical incident that occurred in Australia in 1926.
However, a more recent death happened near Gainesville, Florida, in 2019, when a cassowary killed its owner, 75-year-old Marvin Hajos, who kept the birds on his property.
Mr Hajos fell between two pens, with at least one cassowary launching an attack on him through the fencing, according to the New York Times. Emergency responders discovered him with severe injuries.
Jeff Taylor, the deputy chief of Alachua County Fire Rescue, said: "A couple of people from our crew had to dodge the bird themselves.
"The bird was obviously agitated and was trying to come at them through the fence, but they were quick enough to get themselves out of the way of the bird."
A flightless bird closely related to the emu, cassowaries (along with another large, flightless bird - ostriches) are the sole birds around the world whose assaults have resulted in human fatalities, notes Kofron, who also mentioned that "incidents occur every year in Queensland".
Cassowaries inhabit rainforests, sport black plumage and are reportedly Australia's heaviest birds. Their feet feature razor-sharp claws that can stretch up to 10 centimetres, and they can achieve speeds of up to 31 miles per hour.
Moreover, they can tear through their victims with devastating kicks, leap an incredible seven feet into the air, and even swim. However, it's also important to highlight that the WWF describes them as "fairly shy and peaceful" when unprovoked.