What Effect Do Human Actions Have On The Southern Cassowary?

In many ways, human’s actions have negatively impacted on the southern cassowary and its habitat. Some of these factors of human’s actions are land clearing, feral and introduced species, vehicle strikes, human littering and feeding, and natural disasters. One action that has destroyed their habitat is land clearing for farming, urban development and other developments. This impact has caused the animal to decrease in numbers due to there being no space for shelter and mating. It can even cause them to starve because of the other organisms whose habitats have been destroyed, leaving them with no food sources.

A second effect human’s actions have on the southern cassowaries is the introduced and feral species. The introduced species have become

widespread which have given native animals more predation, competition for food and shelter, destroying their habitat, and spreading diseases. Feral animals such as dogs and pigs can and have killed chicks and young adults which has led to the cassowary’s population decreasing in number. However, adults, when exhausted, can be killed. Domestic dogs can also attack and kill cassowaries when they wander into suburban areas seeking food or water. Introduced species cause an effect to the rainforest and since they have no predators, they have eaten foods, leaving other animals with nothing to eat. They may also eat cassowary eggs and destroy nests.

A third negative impact humans have on the southern cassowary is vehicles strikes and have caused a major impact on the population. Especially during breeding time, cassowaries may be found looking for food, shelter and water. This can cause them to be hit and killed while crossing the road. If the cassowaries keep dying, particularly the chicks, this will affect the population due to the less population to reproduce.