Cassowaries alive and well in far north Cape York Peninsula 

World Cassowary Day has arrived at a significant moment for the Ipima Ikaya Traditional Owner clans with the news that at least 10 Wadthuuny (cassowaries) have been discovered living on their Country in the remote section of the Cape York Northern Area Peninsula. 

The findings are part of the first formal Wadthuuny survey to be conducted on Gudang Yadhaykenu Country in the Ussher Point section of the newly re-named Apudthama National Park.

“The recent findings of these cassowaries is good news for myself and my people,” Myiesha Yoelu, of the Ipima Ikaya Aboriginal Corporation (IIAC) said. 

“I've never been so excited when seeing the report. Wadthuuny play a key role in our rainforests ecosystem and it's nice to see that our Country is now the home of 10 or more cassowaries.

“I think the next step moving forward is for us to further monitor them throughout Country and take steps to protect this beautiful bird at all costs.”

Conducted between June and August 2022, the survey involved a five-day field trip during which camera traps were installed at strategic sites across 28km using lures resembling fruit. On day one of this trip, a cassowary walked into base camp, confirming proof of life in the area. 

Over the next two months, the cameras captured 30 images of at least 10 cassowaries, identified as four adults, four brown sub-adults and two stripey chicks. 

“Our team found more than we ever expected and we are over the moon,” consultant and author of the survey report, Caring for Wadthuuny (Cassowary) on Gudang Yadhaykenu Country, Cape York, Wren Mclean said. 

The results rule out the common perception that cassowaries in the region are extinct. This northern section of Apudthama (Jardine River) National Park is not included in many formal cassowary distribution maps.  

“The last memory of a sighting by Traditional Owners was estimated to be around 40 years ago,” Ms McLean said. 

“These results have been both surprising and heartening. To discover a breeding population of cassowaries in an area where they had not been sighted for so long, and for the Traditional Owners to have the park renamed Apudthama NP (CYPAL) with a joint management agreement, all within the last few months, is wonderful news.” 

The survey was sparked by a more recent sighting of a cassowary in 2018 by a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service’s Heathlands Ranger. 

Cape York Natural Resource Management facilitated the survey work, which was led by the Gudang Yadhaykenu Traditional Owners with assistance from Ms McLean. 

In the report, Ms McLean noted the cassowary habitat was found to be relatively pristine with a low detection rate of feral pigs and no weeds or other feral herbivores recorded. 

However, it is geographically restricted and thus the breeding population may be genetically isolated.

“Cassowaries remain a species of conservation concern and threats to this sub-population may be from inbreeding, reduced genetic diversity and increased extreme cyclones and wildfires in the face of climate change.”

The report made a number of recommendations including:

• Erect signage to educate visitors about the presence of cassowaries and their importance.
• Conduct camera trap surveys in the smaller outlier habitat areas to the north, west and south of the core habitat area.
• Review Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service’s fire management actions within the Ussher Point section and reinstate traditional cool mosaic burning. 
• Traditional Owners conduct biennial surveys for ongoing monitoring of cassowary populations.
• Conduct a field and camera trap survey of the Lockerbie Scrub.
• Traditional Owners report sightings on the Cape York NRM QR-coded cassowary sighting database. 
• Limit the construction of new roads and avoid erecting fences that will inhibit migration and dispersal movement of cassowaries.
• Review and address the risk of reduced genetic diversity.
• Re-define the distribution of the far northern population with the Cassowary Recovery Team to reflect these significant findings.

This project is supported by Cape York NRM, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. 

Cape York NRM has distributed information postcards, available in many outlets on the Cape, for people to recognise cassowary signs. We have a QR code on the card, so you can upload photographs of what you find.