World’s ‘deadliest chick’ hatches in Cotswolds bird park after 25-year breeding attempt

Birdland Park in the Cotswolds has successfully hatched a southern cassowary chick, marking a major milestone in its 25-year attempt to breed the formidable flightless birds. Known for their aggressive nature and powerful 10cm-long claws, cassowaries are often considered one of the world’s most dangerous birds. The newly hatched chick is only the fourth southern cassowary born in Europe this year, according to Birdland Park & Gardens.

Alistair Keen, Birdland’s headkeeper, said: “It has been a massive effort from the entire team here over many years, but it’s all been worthwhile when you see this amazing humbug-coloured chick exploring its new surroundings under the watchful eye of a very protective father.” The chick’s father, a male from Avifauna in the Netherlands, is responsible for incubating the eggs and caring for the young—a rare occurrence in the animal kingdom.

Cassowaries, which inhabit tropical rainforests in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, are powerful runners, reaching speeds of up to 31mph, and can jump up to 2 meters. Though their conservation status was recently reclassified from “vulnerable” to “least concern,” ongoing threats from deforestation and human activity pose challenges to their survival. Visitors to Birdland may soon have the chance to see the fast-growing chick in its enclosure.