The cassowary is a large, flightless bird that is native to New Guinea, northeastern Australia, and some islands of Indonesia. It is not naturally found in India. There are three extant species of cassowary – the southern cassowary, northern cassowary, and dwarf cassowary.
Quick Facts on Cassowaries
Here are some quick facts about cassowaries:
- Cassowaries belong to the ratite group of birds which includes ostriches, emus, rheas and kiwis.
- They are the third tallest and second heaviest living bird species after ostriches and emus.
- Cassowaries are frugivorous – their diet consists mainly of fruits and fruit fallen on the forest floor.
- They are opportunistic feeders and also eat fungi, snails, insects, frogs, birds eggs and small vertebrates.
- Cassowaries are solitary birds that come together only to breed and defend territories.
- They have sturdy legs with dagger-like claws on the inner toes that can grow up to 12 cm long.
- Cassowaries can run up to 50 km/h and jump up to 1.5 m high.
- They have a helmet-like horny casque on top of their head which helps amplify deep booming calls.
- Cassowaries are important seed dispersers for rainforests and help regenerate forests.
- They are considered dangerous due to their sharp claws but attacks on humans are rare.
Distribution of Cassowaries
Cassowaries are only found naturally in the tropical rainforests of New Guinea, northeastern Australia and some islands of Indonesia. The three extant species have the following distributions:
- Southern cassowary – southern New Guinea, northeastern Australia
- Northern cassowary – New Guinea highlands
- Dwarf cassowary – New Britain, New Ireland, Yapen islands
Cassowaries are not native to the Indian subcontinent or found naturally in the wild in India. They are restricted to the Australasian region.
Evidence Cassowaries are Not Native to India
There are several clear pieces of evidence that indicate cassowaries are not native to India:
- No historical records or accounts of cassowaries existing in the wild in India.
- No archaeological or fossil evidence of cassowaries having ever lived in India.
- India lacks the tropical rainforest habitat that cassowaries are adapted to and depend on.
- India is completely outside the natural range of all cassowary species.
- Cassowaries are not mentioned in any indigenous stories, mythology or oral traditions of India.
If cassowaries were native to India, there would be some documentation or evidence of their existence from the past. The complete lack of any such evidence confirms India has never been home to wild cassowary populations.
Possibility of Introduced Populations in India
While cassowaries are not native to India, it is possible that small introduced populations exist in some parts of the country. This could happen through the following routes:
- Escape or release of cassowaries from zoos, private collections or wildlife parks
- Deliberate illegal introduction for the exotic pet trade
- Accidental transportation of cassowaries during aircraft flights
However, there have been no documented reports or confirmed sightings of cassowaries surviving and breeding in the wild in India. A small introduced population is unlikely to persist for long without active management.
Cassowaries in Zoos and Parks in India
Cassowaries can be found in a few select zoos, wildlife parks and private collections across India. Some examples include:
| Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Mysuru Zoo | Mysuru, Karnataka |
| Nehru Zoological Park | Hyderabad, Telangana |
| Indira Gandhi Zoological Park | Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh |
| Guwahati Zoo | Guwahati, Assam |
| Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park | Darjeeling, West Bengal |
These captive cassowaries are imported from countries like Australia, Indonesia and Singapore. They are housed and bred for public display and educational purposes. Escaped individuals may survive temporarily near the facilities but are unlikely to establish a breeding population.
Conservation Status of Cassowaries in India
All three cassowary species are classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. However, their populations face threats in their native range from habitat loss, predation by feral dogs, vehicular strikes and hunting for meat.
In India, cassowaries have no designated conservation status as they are not native to the country. Any individuals in zoos or private facilities are likely to be common southern cassowaries which are listed as Least Concern.
Cassowary Species Suitability for Introduction in India
While cassowaries seem very unlikely to be introduced and survive in India, we can examine which species has the highest chance of success if that was attempted:
- Southern cassowary – Most likely to survive due to its larger size and adaptability to coastal habitats.
- Northern cassowary – Highly unlikely given its specialized upland rainforest niche.
- Dwarf cassowary – Very unlikely to thrive due to smaller size and island habitat usage.
The southern cassowary is the hardiest, most generalist species that could potentially survive along the wetter western coasts or northeast India. But even their long-term survival would be doubtful without very intensive management.
Risks of Introducing Cassowaries to India
Attempting to deliberately introduce cassowaries to India would pose some serious ecological risks:
- Possible negative impacts on native bird, animal and plant species.
- Spread of diseases to native wildlife not adapted to cassowary pathogens.
- Imbalance in forest ecosystems not adapted to cassowary seed dispersal.
- Competition for resources with threatened native species like the Malabar grey hornbill.
- Potential human-cassowary conflicts if populations grow large.
Overall, the risks of intentionally introducing an exotic species like the cassowary far outweigh any potential benefits for India’s natural habitats and biodiversity.
Conclusion
In summary, cassowaries are not native to India and there is no historical or fossil evidence that they ever existed in the region. A few individuals may be present in zoos or private collections but there are no established wild populations. While southern cassowaries could potentially survive if introduced, this carries serious ecological risks. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that cassowaries will ever gain a foothold as a breeding species in India outside of supervised captive facilities.
