Paluma Range Cassowary Citizen Science Event July 4-6th 2025

The Paluma Range represents the southernmost global extent for the southern cassowary however, very little is known about this population of cryptic rainforest ratites. A research project is underway to better understand the abundance, distribution and threats to cassowaries here by way of sign and camera trap surveys, citizen science sightings and collation of historical records.

As a Key Biodiversity Area containing 22,050 ha of potential habitat, it is estimated that cassowaries have been roaming these forests and distributing rainforest seeds for ~50 million years. Cassowaries are only sighted on the Paluma Range on occasion and are evidently in low abundance so many questions arise...Have they always been in low abundance here? Are there current or historical threats that have impacted them? Are they undertaking altitudinal migration to access different fruit resources over different seasons? Are they able to disperse and interbreed with the core Wet Tropics population to the north? Are they able to navigate the fragmented lowlands to utilize coastal fruit resources?

Citizen science reporting of all current or past sightings are helping to add to our body of knowledge and a small cohort of birds have now been captured on camera traps.

Please join us in the beautiful Paluma Range to contribute to the long-term conservation of this iconic, keystone species.  Friday night at the Paluma Community Centre is a catered social dinner (by donation), project update presentations and survey team organisation  All are welcomed to stay the weekend for a range-wide survey including optional easy on-track and/or challenging off-track surveying (optional and according to your ability) to survey for cassowary sign (dung, footprints, sightings) and collect camera traps.  Camp with us at Magar Yamba group campground at Lake Paluma or self-arrange accomodation in Paluma Village.