Dad raising new chick of world’s ‘most challenging bird spieces’

By Elizabeth Hunter

A rare chick known as the "world's most challenging bird species" to breed has been hatched at a UK zoo for the first time in 21 years.

Paignton Zoo in Devon celebrated the first breeding of the "notoriously difficult" cassowary species for the first time since 2004 - the only cassowary born this year in Europe.

Cassowaries are large flightless birds, native to Australia and New Guinea, with males of the species reaching around 1.5 meters in height and females growing closer to 2 meters.

They have a fearsome appearance and possess sharp claws capable of inflicting serious injuries.

Despite their dangerous reputation, the species demonstrates notable parenting behavior, with fathers incubating eggs for approximately 50 days and raising offspring for up to 18 months