ZOO keepers around the world are flocking to see one of 'the world's deadliest chicks'.

Birdland, in the Cotswolds, is currently playing host to the only southern cassowary chick in the UK - well known for being one of the world's largest and most formidable flightless birds.

The chick was born just over 13 weeks ago and has doubled in size making it even deadlier - but it still has some time to go until it will look like its parents.

The birth is a major milestone for the Bourton-on-the-Water wildlife attraction - which has been trying to breed the giant birds on site for more than 25 years.

(Image: Cotswold House Photography)

Keeper Alistair Keen said: "It's doing well and growing, it's probably doubled in size since it hatched 13 weeks ago. 

"It still hasn't been sexed and named because we are still training it to go in the shed so we're none the wiser.

"It's lively and active and surprisingly confident. 

"The birds are naturally shy in the wild but it will follow dad into the open when a keeper or the public walk by so it's not hard to spot.

“Cassowaries have a reputation as one of the world’s most dangerous birds and their size, speed and power combined with their dagger-like, 10-centimetre claws mean we have to take looking after them extremely seriously.

“They are the only birds on site that have their own risk assessment as they are potentially so hazardous."

(Image: Cotswold House Photography)

The chick, which is the first born in the UK since 2021, is only the fourth to hatch in Europe this year and is part of the European Endangered Species Programme.

It will be at least another eight or nine months before the chick loses its unique look and starts to resemble a southern cassowary.

Found in the tropical rainforests of Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, the southern cassowary’s conservation status was recently re-designated from Vulnerable to Least Concern.

(Image: Cotswold House Photography)

However, deforestation and increasing human activity is providing a growing threat to the birds’ long-term survival prospects.

Although flightless, like other members of the ratite family including ostriches and emus, they are powerful runners reaching speeds of up to 31 mph (50 km/h).

Despite lacking the ability to fly, the giant birds can also jump up to two metres and have even been filmed swimming.