Zoo hopes pair of 'enormous' cassowaries will mate

A zoo has been attempting to breed a pair of "enormous" southern cassowaries.

Paignton Zoo in Devon said the birds –16-year-old male Madrid and 11-year-old female Twiggy – met for the first time this week after spending years in adjacent enclosures.

Staff said the time spent near each other meant there were was already a "strong comfort level" between the.

The 2m-tall (6ft) species, considered endangered in its native Australian rainforest habitat, is thought to be more similar to dinosaurs than most other birds. Lisa Ward, the zoo's team leader of birds, said children are "often awestruck" by them.