Mother and Son Flee From the World's Most Dangerous Bird — and It's Caught on Video
It started as an ordinary walk to the front door. A mom and her young son, strolling home on a mild afternoon in Australia. But what unfolded next was a heart-pounding chase — captured by a security camera — involving a creature often dubbed the "world's most dangerous bird," according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Behind them: a towering cassowary and its chick, closing in fast. The dramatic footage, recently released by Queensland's Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, serves as a striking public reminder that wildlife is no joke — especially when it's got claws that rival a horror icon's.
A Feathered Fright at the Front Door
The incident happened on May 9, 2025, in Mission Beach, a serene tropical area in Queensland where cassowaries roam free. Surveillance video shows the mother and child calmly walking up to their home before the boy suddenly takes off running. Just behind them, two cassowaries — one adult, one juvenile — trail closely.
The mother quickly reacts, holding the door open for her son, who races inside. She ducks in just after him, shutting the door as the birds slow down and stalk up to the entrance.
What seems like the setup for a horror movie is, in fact, an alarming side effect of human behavior: feeding wild animals.
When Humans Feed, Birds Get Bold
According to wildlife officials, the cassowaries in question were "habituated" — meaning they had been fed by humans and had come to associate people with food, PEOPLE reported. That association can turn dangerous fast. As wildlife ranger Jeff Lewis explained, "When cassowaries associate humans with food, they can become impatient and aggressive, particularly when accompanied by chicks."
Cassowaries, especially male ones protecting young, can be shockingly territorial. Once a chick is involved, these birds aren’t afraid to get physical.
Just ask the Queensland man in his seventies who was attacked in April. He suffered a nasty cut to the leg when a cassowary kicked him during another food-seeking encounter. Lewis said the man was lucky the injuries weren't worse.
Freddy Krueger With Feathers?
Cassowaries might look like overgrown turkeys from a distance, but these flightless birds are no joke. Weighing up to 130 pounds and standing as tall as 5.6 feet, they pack serious power. Each foot is armed with three claws, including a dagger-like middle claw up to 5 inches long. One swift kick can do serious damage — and has, in rare cases, proved fatal.
The World Wildlife Fund didn't mince words, describing the cassowary as having "a claw that rivals Freddy Krueger's," according to the New York Post. They are one of the few birds known to have killed humans.
Still, experts say cassowaries are not naturally aggressive. In fact, they tend to avoid humans unless provoked — or conditioned. And conditioning, officials say, is happening far too often.
'Be-Cass-o-Wary' — And Stop Feeding the Birds
After several frightening encounters in the region, Queensland authorities launched a public awareness campaign dubbed "Be-cass-o-wary," according to the New York Post. The initiative urges residents and visitors alike to never feed cassowaries or approach them — especially if there are chicks nearby.
Tips include:
- Never stop your vehicle to observe cassowaries on the road.
- Never get between a chick and its parent — male cassowaries are extremely protective.
- Keep dogs leashed and behind fences.
- Do not attempt to feed or touch the birds under any circumstance.
"Local wildlife rangers have been warning people of the risks," Lewis said, according to PEOPLE. "But the unlawful feeding persists."
It's not just about protecting humans — it's about protecting cassowaries too. Feeding disrupts their natural behaviors, increases the chance of vehicle collisions, and can ultimately make them more aggressive, putting both species at risk.
A Lucky Escape, A Sobering Reminder
Fortunately, the mother and child in Mission Beach escaped unharmed. But the encounter has become part of a growing pattern of cassowary-related incidents in Queensland — almost all of them tied to human interference.
These striking, prehistoric-looking birds play an important ecological role in spreading seeds and supporting forest health. But to let them do that safely, humans need to back off and stop turning wild animals into panhandlers with talons.
This time, it ended with a closed door and a bit of adrenaline. Next time, it might not be so lucky.
References: Mother and Child Narrowly Escape the 'World's Most Dangerous Bird.' | Mother and Son Narrowly Survive Run-In With Killer Bird Species | Meet the cassowary, a bird with claws rivaling Freddy Krueger's
