Community
15 October, 2021
Kuranda’s unique cassowaries
A LOCAL with a heart for nature and a passion for wildlife has founded a new business with the intentions of bringing lights to one of Far North Queensland most unique and endangered species.
Jurg Jutzi founded Cassowary Trail to better inform people about the endangered southern cassowary and has found a unique way to do so.
Cassowary Trail and their small team of like-minded locals will be procuring blank life size models of the cassowary to be painted by local artists and placed around as an Art Trail throughout Kuranda.
Mr Jutzi has operated Terra Nova Gallery in Kuranda for the past 11 years, and has always enjoyed being amongst nature and native animals such as the cassowary.
“For me personally the local rainforest and its inhabitants is important to me including the cassowary,” he said.
“I was thinking what we can do, what can we do different, what can we do to help.
“The whole project was my idea, but I have spoken with different conservations groups and business, and everyone was very excited.”
These unique painted cassowaries not only bring better awareness to the endangered southern cassowary, integrate and promote local and indigenous artists but promote Kuranda as a must-see destination.
The cassowaries will also feature a unique QR code that will show information about conservation projects, who painted the cassowary, the story behind the painting and where to find the next one.
If the cassowaries are successfully set up in Kuranda there are plans to expand into other cassowary habitats including the Tablelands, Cairns, Port Douglas region and Mission Beach.
