A cassowary, a rare emu-like bird, attacks and kills Florida man, officials say - Joziah German

Marvin Hajos, the owner of a cassowary bird, was attacked and killed after he fell in his backyard. At 75, the breeder of the rare bird made the first call to 911 Friday at 10 am. There was a second call, and that person reported a medical emergency involving a large bird. Hajos died at the hospital, while the cassowary, still on the property, is getting conducted under an investigation. The death seems like an accident, officials say, but these birds are considered the most dangerous birds in the world. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission classifies cassowaries as class II wildlife. This means they are a danger to humans and are subject to specific cage requirements. These animals, including alligators, honey badgers, and clouded leopards must have owners with substantial experience. The bird can run 31 mph, jump about 7 feet in the air, and is a skilled swimmer. It is also known that each of their 3 toed feet has a daggered claw that is up to 4 inches. Cassowary can slice open any predator or threat with a single kick, so it is understanding why it could kill a human, too.

This article created by Eliott C. Mclaughlin and Deanna Hackney, CNN, was released a couple of days after the incident. I had no prior knowledge about this incident, nor had I heard about it on the news. I find it hard to understand though how the bird got out of its cage, especially since Hajos was not in the cage when he fell. This event reminds me of when Randy Johnson, MLB pitcher, threw a fastball so hard it killed a bird. The player for the Arizona Diamondbacks likely threw a pitch climbing to 100 mph when it happened to hit a bird flying on the field. This one in a million play was just as bizarre as this bird killing its owner. They were both accidents, no one really knows how either of these happened, and there were birds involved. This article was written, as a reminder to people that wild animals are not a joke. Even people specialized under laws to keep birds like the cassowary, are at risk with these unpredictable creatures. The purpose of this article and its importance is to emphasize the danger and caution that needs to be used with wild animals. These animals are not going to act like ordinary pets, they have minds of their own, and do what they want. I see why this incident could have happened. The man could have frightened the dangerous bird and made it go survival mode, killing him easily. I hope in the future, people can really come to realize yes, these animals are beautiful, but indeed they are still erratic.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/14/us/cassowary-bird-kills-florida-man/index.html