‘World’s most dangerous bird’ escapes zoo exhibit

The Denver Zoo was on lock down Friday after a 6-foot-tall cassowary temporarily escaped its exhibit.

The flightless Australian bird, notorious for being very dangerous to humans, was seen throwing itself against the fence of its exhibit until it managed to squeeze through the gate.

Due to its menacing reputation, visitors were taken to safety until zookeepers were able to find and return the bird.

The bird named Murray was found several feet away seemingly frightened by its newly acquired freedom. Cassowaries are usually shy, but on occasion, they’re known to be aggressive if spooked.

There’s only one documented death from a cassowary in 1926, but several attacks on humans and pets have been recorded.

According to the Denver Post, zookeepers used an interesting method to get it back in its exhibit:

Staffers set up a perimeter around him using 6-foot wire-fence sections. They then cut holes in the sections and closed the fence around the bird a few feet at a time, until Murray was coaxed through the holes in the fence and into his exhibit. The bird was safely in the exhibit by 3 p.m., and no one was injured.

Watch this video to find out more.