Nth Qld cassowary rehab program to wind up

A program to rehabilitate endangered cassowaries in north Queensland is about to wind up due to financial pressures.

Rainforest Rescue's Missions Beach shelter will stop taking new cassowaries once the birds currently being cared for are released back into the wild.

It says the operating costs are far higher than the $20,893 raised through donations.

The state government is looking into alternative arrangements in the hope of reopening the facility down the track.

The huge birds are important rainforest gardeners, distributing the seeds of more than 70 species of trees, but face major threats including dog attacks, vehicle strikes, wild pigs and disease.