The quokka is definitely in the top ten of the cutest animals in the world. With its smiling face, curious nature, and photogenic features, there’s no doubt as to why this little marsupial has stolen the hearts of millions. As a matter of fact, this small marsupial is so loved that it has become the unofficial mascot of Australia. But there is more to this animal than its cute appearance. In this article, we take a look at everything you may want to know about the quokka: where it lives, its behavior, its diet, and why it has taken the social media world by storm.
So, let’s plunge into this fascinating world of quokkas!
The quokka, Setonix brachyurus, is a small, herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. Often called “the happiest animal on Earth” due to its smiley facial expression, the quokka is a member of the macropod family, which also includes kangaroos and wallabies.
quokkas usually weigh between 2.5 and 5 kilograms in weight, the size of a domesticated cat, with small, round ears, thick fur with grey-brown coloration, and a short tail. Nocturnal, which means being most active at night, they can also be seen out during the day, especially in the cooler parts.
Native to Australia, their habitats are basically confined to Rottnest Island, which lies off the coast of Perth, Western Australia. They also have small populations on the mainland; however, such populations are rather limited and, more often than not, sit in protected reserves.
You might have seen them on social media, with people taking selfies with them to show their cheeky smiles. Infact, the quokka has become a global sensation, especially with tourists visiting Rottnest Island, where these marsupials are comfortable with humans.
There’s more to their popularity, though, than their smiling looks: Quokkas have been symbols of all Australian conservation and the reason their growing popularity spreads word on taking a closer look toward securing the future for such unique animals and their native places.
No wonder that quokkas, with their irresistible smiles, have become an internet sensation. It all started with a viral photo taken by a tourist in 2013, where a quokka was posing for a selfie. Since then, people from all over the world have flocked to Rottnest Island to snap their quokka selfies, leading to thousands of pictures flooding platforms like Instagram and Twitter.
What impresses most, though, is how these animals, being wild, seem never to mind being around human life. Being curious and inquisitive by nature adds on to making them the perfect photography subjects. The #QuokkaSelfie has gone into trend and people from all walks of life are going desperate to share their quokka encounters.
As mentioned earlier, quokkas are native to Australia, most of them on Rottnest Island, which is an island around 18 kilometers off the coast of Perth, Western Australia. The island has been protected, absent of any introduced predators like foxes and cats; therefore, the island is a good refuge for the quokka.
Apart from Rottnest Island, a few scattered populations exist on the mainland throughout areas of forest and wetland. These include the Walpole Wilderness Area in southern West Australia. On the mainland, however, because of habitat loss and the threat to their survival by various introduced predators, quokkas are much rarer.
Rottnest Island is a haven for wildlife because its unique ecosystems provide just the right environment for quokkas to thrive. Its diverse habitats include sand dunes, scrubland, and coastal heath, all of which afford the quokkas plentiful food. It is also relatively free of human disturbance, enabling the population of quokkas to build up and maintain a constant, healthy presence.
Because of its small distribution and the vulnerability resulting from habitat destruction and introduced predators, the quokka has been considered a vulnerable species. With all these aspects, conservation programs have kept these animals and their natural habitats under protection, monitoring their population, restoring their natural habitats, and controlling the numbers of introduced predators. For one, Rottnest Island itself is a protected reserve, and the Australian government has taken stringent measures to ensure the safety of its quokka population.
Quokkas aren’t just cute; they also have an interesting social structure and some very interesting behavioral traits. Let’s take a closer look at how they live and interact with each other and the environment.
Quokkas are social animals, living in small groups known as “mobs.” A typical mob may include a few individuals, normally related, and it shares everything, including food and shelter. Though at times they may appear to be solitary, quokkas are very social animals that will often be seen grooming one another or resting side by side.
One of the most interesting things about quokkas is how inquisitive they are. Naturally curious, they will approach both humans and other animals in wonder. It is this curiosity that has made them so photogenic and has led to their viral status on social media.
Quokkas are mainly nocturnal, meaning most of their activity occurs at night. During the day, they rest in the shade, avoiding the heat, while at night they come out and forage for food. This helps in energy conservation, besides keeping themselves safe from some predators, being small in size.
In the wild, quokkas feed on various vegetation leaves, grasses, and shrubs. Because their diet is of very low nutritional value, they have to consume large volumes of food to meet their energy demands.
Quokkas breed throughout the year, although the peak is from January to March. The female quokka gives birth to a single joey after a very short period of about 27 days of pregnancy. As in all marsupials, the underdeveloped little joey will crawl into the pouch to continue its development. It stays in the pouch for approximately six months before venturing out, and it continues to suckle at the age of approximately eight months.
Wild quokkas usually live to around 10 years, but very few live into this age due to predation and environmental conditions. However, the quokka population on Rottnest Island can be said to be better because of a lack of predators and care given to the island itself.
Being herbivores, quokkas will often feed on various types of plants, grass, leaves, fruits, and flowers. They have a diet composed mainly of low-nutrient plants; hence, they need to consume huge amounts of food for nutritional sufficiency.
They love the shrubbery on Rottnest Island so much. Having learned to subsist on island vegetation, be as simple as their diet may be, it’s good enough to keep them at a healthy body weight and energetic. Another interesting thing is that the quokkas love to graze on shrubs or ground vegetation to help them keep their small and compact body build.
During dry months, the quokkas can survive for several months without water, since all the water intake comes from the plants they consume. This ability of survival in arid conditions is one of the reasons it thrives on Rottnest Island.
Quokkas are full of surprises! Here’s a couple of fun facts about this intriguing marsupial:
The Quokka Smile: The quokka’s famous smile is actually natural, given the shape of its jaw and mouth. When they are relaxed, they look as if they are grinning from ear to ear, making them appear perpetually happy.
Selfie Stars: Quokkas have gained fame over selfies because they are naturally curious and often approach humans to investigate anything. Many tourists visit Rottnest Island just to snap a selfie with one of these adorable creatures. Survivalists: Despite their small size, the quokkas can adapt to most environmental conditions. They survive on low-nutrient diets and can go without water for periods.
Protected Species: Being vulnerable in the wild, the quokka is a protected species, and efforts have gone into the conservation of their habitat to protect their population from introduced predators. Nocturnal: Quokkas are primarily nocturnal, being most active during the night, where they forage for food and socialize with other members of their mob.
If you want to see a quokka for real, then Rottnest Island should be your destination. From Perth, a short ferry ride would take you to this island, where you will find them in plenty. Quokkas can be found roaming free on the entire island, particularly where some vegetation is available for them to graze on.
During your visit, you must not disturb the quokkas or their habitat. Though they are used to humans, it is not advisable to disturb or feed them, as this disrupts their natural behavior.
Be patient: The quokkas may approach you, but do not rush them. Let them come to you at their own pace.
Shoot with natural light: Quokkas are most active in early morning or late afternoon, so try to snap your selfie during these hours when the light is softer.
The quokka is more than just a cute face – it’s a symbol of Australia’s rich biodiversity and a reminder of Conclusion: Why We Should Care About Quokkas
But the quokka is so much more than a cute face; it’s all the great biodiversity of Australia, a reminder about the importance of wildlife conservation. For the cute appearance and social media sensations that have made them dear to many, one has to keep in mind that the quokka is a vulnerable species and faces real threats in the wild.
By supporting conservation and protected areas, such as Rottnest Island, we’re trying to make it possible to have further generations go out into nature and see why the quokka truly brings a smile upon one’s face.
So, the next time you see a quokka smiling back at you from your social media feed, remember that it is very important to preserve their habitat and protect their future. These little creatures may be small, but their impact is truly huge!
Bring home the joy of a quokka with this eco-friendly, cuddly plush! Perfect gift for kids: soft, sustainable, and irresistibly cute! -> Click here!