The Wet Tropics Management Authority celebrated World Cassowary Day with a crowd of thousands at Fogarty Park in Cairns on Sunday 24 September.
Since its inception in 2014, World Cassowary Day has recognised the conservation efforts of people working to protect the southern cassowary and its home, the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics rainforests.
Authority staff took the opportunity to share information about the importance of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and the Authority’s work, including its Yellow Crazy Ant Eradication Program.
Executive director of the Authority Scott Buchanan said World Cassowary Day had become a key annual event in the Wet Tropics calendar.
“World Cassowary Day is an important event for the local community to celebrate the iconic cassowary and other threatened species in our region,” he said.
“We support the event wholeheartedly as part of our charter to recognise and celebrate the community’s contribution to managing the World Heritage Area.
“The success of this year’s event is testament to the dedication of community members and organisations including Rainforest Reserves, Cairns and Far North Environment Centre and the Cassowary Recovery Team,” Mr Buchanan added.
World Cassowary Day 2017 was made possible through sponsorship of local businesses and support by Cairns Regional Council, Terrain Natural Resource Management, Queensland Government and the Wet Tropics Management Authority.
More information at www.worldcassowaryday.com.au