Zoo hopes pair of 'enormous' cassowaries will mate

A zoo has been attempting to breed a pair of "enormous" southern cassowaries.

Paignton Zoo in Devon said the birds –16-year-old male Madrid and 11-year-old female Twiggy – met for the first time this week after spending years in adjacent enclosures.

Staff said the time spent near each other meant there were was already a "strong comfort level" between the.

The 2m-tall (6ft) species, considered endangered in its native Australian rainforest habitat, is thought to be more similar to dinosaurs than most other birds. Lisa Ward, the zoo's team leader of birds, said children are "often awestruck" by them.

A zoo spokesman said: "With their distinctive helmet-like casques, cassowaries are often described as the world's most dangerous birds, making them a must-see attraction, particularly for dinosaur enthusiasts."

The birds can reach speeds of more than 30mph (48kmh) when sprinting, the zoo said.

Madrid arrived at the zoo in 2009, while Twiggy was brought over in 2017.

Ms Ward said the pair had a long-standing neighbourly relationship.

"That's potentially why we didn't see any of the aggression that can sometimes occur with new introductions," she added.

The zoo said mating attempts were made throughout the first day but keepers were not certain how successful the efforts had been.

"They'll need some time to figure things out together," Ms Ward said.

"But all the signs so far are incredibly positive. We're cautiously optimistic that we might hear the patter of tiny talons in the future."

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