A rainforest bird with a black body, blue neck and a hard crest on top of its head.
Adults have red wattles hanging from the neck. Young birds are browner, with duller head and neck colors.
In northeastern Australia, Southern Cassowaries mainly eat fallen fruit and disperse seeds in dung. Their size enables transport of large seeds.
Other mammals may move seeds from droppings. Seasonal fruit availability changes habitat use, connecting rainforest with adjacent vegetation.
Habitat fragmentation, vehicle strikes and dogs are threats. Queensland maps habitat and is developing genetic methods using scat and feathers to improve knowledge of populations.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
In Australia, habitat loss and fragmentation, vehicles, dogs and extreme weather are threats. Priorities include habitat connections, reducing collisions and attacks, and better monitoring.