Although native to Papua, my first and only encounter with a Cassowari was in the Bali Bird Park. At that time I was up quite close and personal as you can see from this incredible photo I got (without using zoom)!
As it turns out, these over-grown grouse are the only one ever known to have actively attacked, and killed, humans. In Australia, apparently it's not uncommon that they hospitalize people, and have even been known to disembowel with their razor-sharp claws! It looks like the bird-keepers are keeping them trimmed nicely!
But in hind-site, I can't help but thing perhaps 'mom' should've been a little more careful when she asked me to take this picture of her boys with the beast at the gate to its enclosure (the rest, really is a single rail fence!)!?!
They're not carnivorous, so are not attacking for food, but they are very territorial birds -- they get extremely feisty if anyone that they perceive as a direct threat comes within their 7kmsq stomping ground. After hearing all this, I would think Bali Bird Park would at least use a more complex enclosure than a simple rail fence... or at least put an 'aggressive bird' warning sign up!?! I guess that would spoil the feeling of communing with these creatures from Jurassic park....
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