Cassowary kills Florida man, officials say

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The owner of the bird, Marvin Hajos – who is 75, according to the CNN affiliate, WCJB – made the initial call to 911, Friday around 10 am, local time. Is. Another call at the scene reported a medical emergency involving a large bird, said Lt. Joshua Crews of the Sheriff's Office of Alachua County.

Hajos was taken to a nearby hospital where he died, said the lieutenant. The cassowary remains on Hajos' property while authorities investigate the attack, he said.

The owner was a breeder of this rare bird from Australia and New Guinea, said Alachua County Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Taylor.

Death was an accident, officials said. Apparently, the man fell and the cassowary attacked him after the fall, Taylor said.

The Florida Wildlife and Wildlife Conservation Commission considers Class II wildlife as a danger to humans and is subject to special cage requirements. Owners must also have "substantial experience" with the animals, said the commission.

Class II belongs to the same category as alligators, badgers and leopards, while Class I includes more traditional predators such as lions, tigers and bears.

According to the San Diego Zoo, the cassowary is a "big bird unable to fly that has the most connection with the emu". He can run up to 50 km / h in dense brush, jump more than 7 feet in the air and is a skilled swimmer. It can therefore cleverly repel threats, says the zoo.

They can reach more than 5 feet in height and the heavier females can weigh more than 160 pounds, says the zoo. Males weigh up to 120 pounds.

"The cassowary is rightly considered the most dangerous bird in the world!" the zoo says. "Each 3-fingered foot has a dagger-shaped claw on the inner toe that measures up to 10 cm long! The casoar can open a predator or potential threat of a quick single shot. . "

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