“Cassowaries are large, flightless birds related to emus and (more distantly) to ostriches, rheas, and kiwis”, writes Olivia Judson in the September issue of National Geographic magazine. How large? People-size: Adult males stand well over five foot five and top 110 pounds. Females are even taller, and can weigh more than 160 pounds. Dangerous when roused, they’re shy and peaceable when left alone. But even birds this big and tough are prey to habitat loss. The dense New Guinea and Australia rain forests where they live have dwindled. Today cassowaries might number 1,500 to 2,000. And because they help shape those same forests – by moving seeds from one place to another – “if they vanish”, Judson writes, “the structure of the forest would gradually change” too. (Photo by Christian Ziegler/National Geographic)

Maddie Stanton (L) and River compete in Helen Woodward Animal Center's 18th Annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon at Del Mar Dog Beach on September 10, 2023 in Del Mar, California. (Photo by Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)

Linda Cerruti, Lucrezia Ruggiero, Marta Iacoacci, Isotta Sportelli, Sofia Mastroianni, Giulia Vernice, Enrica Piccoli and Francesca Zunino of Team Italy compete in the Mixed Team Technical Final on day five of the Doha 2024 World Aquatics Championships at Aspire Dome on February 06, 2024 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Seattle-based Jeremy Veach has been the proud owner of Norm, his four-legged friend, since the pup was just 8 weeks old (he’s now 1 1/2). Soon after Jeremy got him, he started taking photos of the photogenic dog, inspired by some canine favorites like good ‘ol Maddie, and began posting them on Instagram. (Jermzlee now has almost 24,000 followers.)

American media personality Kylie Jenner has flaunted her perfectly sculpted abs in a white crop top and matching skirt in Los Angeles in the second decade of October 2022 just seven months after giving birth to her son. (Photo by Diggzy/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo is seen in Midtown on September 06, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

American actress Demi Moore in the last decade of July 2022 wants you to turn your head to the side to revel in her 59-year-old presence, which doesn't look a day over 25. (Photo by Instagram)

American media personality, socialite and model Kylie Kristen Jenner and American model Kendall Nicole Jenner are launching a new joint makeup line in the last decade of March 2022. (Photo by Kyliejenner/Instagram)