Reggie’s recovery at the beach

Steve Garrad, ARF Conservation Officer
Garner’s Beach Cassowary Recovery Facility

	Thanks to her healthy appetite Reggie’s feathers are returning.

There has been a flurry amongst Avian Specialists in Australia as it appears the first recorded case of feather loss in cassowaries due to a virus (called circo-virus) has surfaced in Mission Beach. The unfortunate subject of this interest is Reggie, a long time resident of South Mission Beach rainforest, a bird well known to residents. She achieved earlier notoriety for being relocated halfway to Tully with a tracker attached only to reappear in a matter of days.

With her scarred casque, enormous feet and wattles due to 35 year of jungle-living, the loss of her plumage had her shivering in the coolest of our winter nights and at risk of sunburn in the day.
The strategy for her care is just like for humans when a cold virus lays us low - take lots of rest and good nutrition. Reggie is on near double rations to other cassowaries in the facility with vitamin supplements A, D and E.