Southern Cassowary (Wildlife by CollectA)

Review and images by Lanthanotus; edited by bmathison1972

Only few species of the once varied and numerous group of ratites remain in our modern world. Amonge these, the cassowaries are a very impressive occurrence, they are the most colorful and the second heaviest. Three species are known, but the one shown here is basically the only known to people other than the most dedicated ornithologists, the southern cassowary, Casuarius casuarius. All three species inhabit rainforests of the Indo-Australian region. They mainly feed on vegetables and live a solitary life. Despite its impressive nature, few toy models have ever been made (editor’s note: this is the Blog’s second; click here to see the first!).

CollectA’s model stands 10 cm high, including the base and is around 7.5 cm long. It is intricately sculpted and precisely painted. The heavy body is decked in a shaggy coat of hair like feathers, the lower “legs” (in fact, as in all birds, the feet) are powerful and rightfully thick, compared with other ratites. The toes may be a tad bit too long, the inner toes shows the elongate claw the animals use in defense. Neck and head are decorated with long wattles, tubercles and the striking coloration of pink, violet and bright blue. The bony casque on the head is very high, but within the range of individual growth. A nitpick point may be, that the beak could be a tad bit longer and bit more down-curved at the tip.

This cassowary figure makes not only a good toy, but also a great display model.