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Project
Garners Beach Cassowary Rehabilitation Facility
C4 recently celebrated a heartwarming success story with the release of Willy — one of our orphaned cassowary chicks — back into the wild.
This young cassowary, known to staff and volunteers as ‘Willy’ (aka ‘Wilma’), was brought to the Garners Beach Cassowary Rehabilitation Facility under tragic circumstances. The chick was rescued near Bramston Beach in November 2023, found alone beside its father, who had fallen victim to a road accident. When it arrived at the facility, it weighed just one kilogram and was entirely dependent on care.
For nearly a year, C4 volunteers, in partnership with wildlife officers at DESI, provided consistent care to help the chick grow strong. Initially hand-fed, it later moved to a vegetated enclosure, where we minimised human interaction to foster its natural instincts. Strategic food placement throughout the enclosure encouraged the chick to forage independently, preparing it for the challenges of the wild.
After eleven months of careful nurturing, a veterinary assessment by Tropical Vets confirmed that the juvenile cassowary had reached a healthy 28 kilograms, and was ready to return to its rainforest home. The release site was selected near Bramston Beach, ensuring the young cassowary was well away from human and road hazards, giving it the best start on its new journey.
Senior Wildlife Officer Alex Diczbalis acknowledged the success, noting that this chick’s story highlights the impact of collaboration among C4, the Department, and local vets like Tropical Vets. “This cassowary’s journey from rescue to release embodies the dedication of everyone who was involved in raising it,” said Mr Diczbalis, emphasising the importance of the work we do together to conserve Queensland’s endangered cassowary populations.