Posted on 04/24/2019 2:02:59 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
A Florida wildlife breeder was killed by one of his birds almost two weeks ago—and now that bird is going up for auction. More than 100 exotic animals from the estate of Marvin Hajos are being sold off after the 75-year-old man was fatally attacked by a 6-foot-tall cassowary at his Alachua County farm. The flightless birds are often called the "world's most dangerous bird" thanks to their "dagger-like" claws that can grow up to 5 inches long. Hajos fell down between two cassowary cages on April 12 and was attacked through the fence by at least one of the birds, the New York Times reports. The birds were not put down after the attack. Gulf Coast Livestock Auction is running the Saturday auction, the Gainesville Sun reports, but a manager was unwilling to offer any details to the newspaper beyond confirming the company has all the licenses needed to sell the animals.
On Facebook, however, the business shared a flyer about the event listing dozens of animals being auctioned off, including two double-wattled cassowaries and other "vulnerable and endangered species," per the Sun. Cassowaries are native to New Guinea and Australia and Florida requires a permit to own them; significant experience and cage requirements must be met to get the permit. A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesperson says the agency is aware of the Saturday auction: "The sale of captive wildlife to and from properly licensed individuals is not prohibited in Florida. If an individual is properly licensed to own/exhibit/sell captive wildlife, no additional license is required for a sale of this nature." The investigator from the Medical Examiner's Office who worked on the Hajos case says he heard the breeder was checking on eggs when he died: "The female cassowary, which is the larger of the two birds, saw he was messing with the eggs and you know how that goes,” he said. “It is like a bear protecting their young." (Australians were once warned to flee the birds.)
Tastes like chicken? Or is the meat mostly darker?
I want to go there, but the damn animals [and probably plants] scare the crap out of me.
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I am more afraid of the government down under than any of their wildlife.
There are better, much better, pictures of the daggers on those beasts. They are mean as hell looking.
If it were bigger, I’d buy it and then drop it off at the Capitol.
I’m thing Wedding Anniversary present.
What kind of birdy num-nums does it eat?
If your wife buys this, look out.
I’m guessing Florida Man Num-Nums.
Tug his beard...see what happens.
“Tell me about it. I want to go there, but the damn animals [and probably plants] scare the crap out of me.
“
Step on a stonefish ....report back.
“I’ll pay cash in advance, please deliver to my ex-wife’s residence.”
Would that be animal cruelty?
“That is one bird that you DO NOT F-with. Look it up - it’s vicious.”
Excellent..turn a flock of them loose at the democratic convention.
Let me know. I have dibs on a drumstick. I’ll bring the beer.
“I am more afraid of the government down under than any of their wildlife.”
Didn’t Australia start its “life” as a penal colony? That is the gene pool populating the place, I expect. Scary.
Something for someone who has everything.
Wow! That little (or big!) birdie is out for blood! Sheesh!
Swine Bird!
Ummm, aren’t dogs that attack people put down?
Why is this killer bird being sold instead of put down?
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