Editing Cassowary (section)

== Distribution and habitat ==
Cassowaries are native to the humid rainforests of New Guinea, nearby smaller islands, [[East Nusa Tenggara]], the [[Maluku Islands]], and northeastern Australia.{{r|Clements2007}} They do, however, venture out into palm scrub, [[grassland]], [[savanna]], and swamp forest. The wild population of cassowaries is threatened by deforestation, hunting, and habitat destruction. Human presence and agricultural activities have also contributed to the decline of their population in some areas. To protect this species, various conservation efforts have been carried out, including preserving natural habitat and enforcing regulations against illegal hunting.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Planting important habitat to save the Iconic Cassowary |url=https://www.fame.org.au/projects/planting-important-habitat-to-save-the-iconic-cassowary |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=The Foundation for Australia's Most Endangered Species (FAME)}}</ref> In Indonesia, cassowaries are predominantly found in the rainforests of Papua, particularly in lowland and montane areas. In addition, cassowaries are known to inhabit protected areas such as [[Wasur National Park]] in Merauke and [[Lorentz National Park]], the largest national park in Indonesia, Southeast Asia, and the Asia Pacific region, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its vast biodiversity and unique ecological zones.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Centre |first=UNESCO World Heritage |title=Lorentz National Park |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/955/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |language=en}}</ref> These birds play a critical ecological role in seed dispersal, contributing to the regeneration of forests in these protected areas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=UNEP-WCMC |date=2017-05-22 |title=Lorentz National Park |url=http://world-heritage-datasheets.unep-wcmc.org/datasheet/output/site/lorentz-national-park/ |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=World Heritage Datasheet |language=en}}</ref> They can also be easily spotted in some national parks such as Mellwraith Range National Park, [[Paluma Range National Park]], and Jardine National Park in Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-09|title=Cassowary: Description, Pictures, & Fun Facts I TheBirdPedia|url=https://thebirdpedia.com/cassowary-description-pictures-fun-facts/|access-date=2022-02-17|language=en-US}}</ref>