It’s estimated that nearly 500 animal species have become extinct since the beginning of the 20th century. Among them the Passenger Pigeon, Japanese Sea Lion, Western Black Rhinoceros, Golden Toad, Caribbean Monk Seal, and Mexican Grizzly Bear, now gone forever.
And yet, for most of us, the absence of these creatures makes no difference
in our daily lives. Perhaps that’s why some people roll their
eyes when they hear about saving the tiny Snail Darter or the
Polar Bear or the Gray Wolf.
But what if a creature existed that could change lives with its
passing? And I mean change in a big way.
Meet the cassowary.
“The cassowary is extremely important,” our guide explained. “Without
the bird, the forest would not exist.”
Daintree is primordial. Giant strangler figs crawl across the forest floor.
Dappled sunlight sneaks though a thick green canopy. Massive ferns sprout
from leaf-littered soil. The outside world is muted, and the sight of
a dinosaur might not seem strange.
I learned the cassowary is a one-bird master gardener, a creature
that combs the forest floor eating fallen fruits, even gobbling up plants that
are toxic to other creatures. The bird consumes up to 150 different types of
fruits. The existence of 70 to 100 plant species depends on the
cassowary pooping out their seeds in a pile of protective,
compost-like dung, the smell of which repels seed predators. The cassowary is a
“keystone” species, which means a species on which others in an ecosystem
largely depend, one that, if removed, would cause the ecosystem to change
drastically.
So, no cassowary, no rainforest. But there’s more. Below Daintree are
mangroves, a mucky area rich in bio-matter that filters down from the forest.
All types of young creatures - crabs, jellyfish, snappers, jacks,
red drums, sea trout, tarpon, sea bass, and even juvenile sharks - thrive in
the protection of the fertile water of the mangroves.
Also consider that roughly 25% of the world’s fish species spend part of
their lives on the reefs. If the Great Barrier Reef dies – note that half of
the more than 1,400-mile structure has already perished – vast fisheries could
collapse leading to starvation that could ultimately affect billions of people.
Which brings me back to the cassowary. It’s estimated that only 12,000 to
15,000 of the birds remain in the wild. Loss of habitat is decreasing their
numbers, as are attacks by dogs. Another problem is humans driving too
fast.
Why should we care?
I think the cassowary is but one example of the interconnectedness of life.
Perhaps that's something we should think about.
Please allow me to give you a brief intro to my latest historical fiction novel for your reading pleasure.
magician…and uncovers more than she bargained for.
In 1939, archeologists uncovered a tomb at the Northern Arizona site called Ridge Ruin. The man, bedecked in fine turquoise jewelry and intricate bead work, was surrounded by wooden swords with handles carved into animal hooves and human hands. The Hopi workers stepped back from the grave, knowing what the Moochiwimi sticks meant. This man, buried nine hundred years earlier, was a magician.
Former television journalist Kate Butler hangs on to her investigative reporting career by writing freelance magazine articles. Her research on The Magician shows he bore some European facial characteristics and physical qualities that made him different from the people who buried him. Her quest to discover The Magician’s origin carries her back to a time when the high desert world was shattered by the birth of a volcano and into the present-day dangers of archeological looting where black market sales of antiquities can lead to murder.
Former television journalist Kate Butler hangs on to her investigative reporting career by writing freelance magazine articles. Her research on The Magician shows he bore some European facial characteristics and physical qualities that made him different from the people who buried him. Her quest to discover The Magician’s origin carries her back to a time when the high desert world was shattered by the birth of a volcano and into the present-day dangers of archaeological looting where black market sales of antiquities can lead to murder.
When she can, Anne indulges in her passions: rock collecting, scuba diving, football refereeing, and playing her guitar.
Learn more about Anne Montgomery on her website and Wikipedia. Stay connected on Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter.
