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It's the first time two sibling cassowaries have been released back into the wild.
Two juvenile cassowaries have been released into Japoon National Park near Tully after ten months of rehabilitation at the Garners Beach Cassowary Rehabilitation Centre.
It is the first time the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) has released two cassowaries back into the wild together.
The sibling cassowaries had been in care at the DETSI rehabilitation centre since November 2024, after one of them and their father had been struck by a vehicle near Innisfail.
Concerned members of the public contacted DETSI, and wildlife rangers were able to rescue the birds and place them in the rehabilitation centre for veterinarian care.
The rehabilitation process was a collaborative effort, with invaluable support from volunteers at Community for Cassowary and Coastal Conservation (C4) and staff from Tropical Vets.
During their rehabilitation the chicks were reintroduced to each other and spent the next nine months in the same pen, learning how to forage for food.
Wildlife ranger Jeffrey Lewis said reuniting the chicks with their father was not possible due to the prolonged separation while in care.
"The father was successfully rehabilitated and released back to the wild earlier this year, and has since been observed thriving in the Wet Tropics," Mr Lewis said.
"On July 31 2025, the juvenile cassowaries had reached an age where they would naturally separate from their father in the wild.
"After receiving the all-clear from a veterinarian they were taken to Japoon National Park and released back into the wild.
"As the cassowaries adjust to their new environment, it is hoped they will eventually establish their own territories, contributing to the ongoing survival of their species in wild."
These young cassowaries will play a vital role as "rainforest gardeners," consuming native fruits and spreading seeds throughout the World Heritage-listed ecosystem.
DETSI extends its thanks to the dedicated veterinary teams, volunteers, and community members who made this release possible.
