An unexpected swimmer was spotted lurking near Bingil Bay in Queensland, Australia.
According to a release from theQueensland Government’s Department of Environment and Science, beachgoers at Bingil Bay Campground spotted a strange blob in the water on October 31. At first, onlookers at the beach thought the shape might be a shark or a turtle, but as the mass moved closer to shore, they realized it was a bird.
The dark shape moving through the water was a cassowary, a large flightless bird native to northeastern Australia known for its territorial and “dangerous” behavior, per the Department of Environment and Science.
The host of the Bingil Bay Campground, Nikita McDowell, who watched the giant bird emerge from the surf onto the shore, also captured footage of the animal’s trek from sea to land. In the clip, you can see the bird’s head above the water in the ocean. The cassowary gradually swims closer to the shore until it reaches the beach. After making it to shore, the bird stands at full height and shakes its wet feathers.
A cassowary bird swimming in the ocean near Bingil Bay Campground in Queensland, Australia.Nikita McDowell via Storyful
Nikita McDowell via Storyful
“I ran down and waited for the cassowary to emerge from the ocean, and it must’ve been exhausted as it stood in the shade beneath a tree with its legs shaking for about half an hour,” McDowell told the Department of Environment and Science.
The surprising sighting was reported to the Department of Environment and Science and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS). While it was shocking to onlookers to see the bird come out of the ocean, QPWS wildlife officer Stephen Clough said in a statement that cassowaries are known as strong swimmers.
A cassowary bird emerges from the ocean in Queensland, Australia.Nikita McDowell via Storyful
“We’re not sure how long this animal was in the water or why it went for a swim, but the footage is astonishing,” he added.
The Department of Environment and Science release stated that after the bird reached the beach, it stayed on the sand for about 30 minutes before moving on.
Cassowaries are listed as an endangered species under Australia’s Nature Conservation Act 1992.
“There’s an estimated 4000 cassowaries remaining in Queensland, and they face numerous threats to their survival, including habitat loss, vehicle strikes, and domestic dog attacks,” Clough said.
A cassowary bird near the shore in Queensland, Australia.Nikita McDowell via Storyful
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’sfree daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
To protect cassowaries and protect people from the territorial birds, Queensland’s Department of Environment and Science recommends that humans never feed the birds or approach the animals — especially cassowary chicks. Additionally, those who live in areas native to cassowaries should be cautious while driving and make sure their pets are leashed or in a fenced area when outside.“If you come face-to-face with an aggressive bird, it’s important to have some simple strategies to protect yourself. If you encounter a southern cassowary, back away slowly and put something like a tree or a backpack between yourself and the bird, and let it go on its way,” the Australian agency shared in its release, adding that cassowaries have killed pets and people before with their large, clawed feet.
source: people.com
