So what exactly is a cassowary? Like their cousins the emus, these large, flightless birds with bristly feathers are ratites. They are native to the tropical forests of south-east Asia and Australia. Though size varies across the three different species, cassowaries can stand up to 2 m (6 ft 6 in) tall and weigh as much as 60 kg (132 lb) The last-known victim was 16-year-old hunter Phillip McClean, who tripped while fleeing from a bird in Australia. It was when McClean was on the ground that he received a fatal blow to the neck.