The quokka ( / ˈ k w ɒ k ə / ; Setonix brachyurus ) is a small macropod about the size of a domestic cat. It is the only animal in the genus Setonix. Like other marsupials in the macropod family (such as kangaroos and wallabies ), the quokka eats plants and is mainly active at night.

The quokka lives in a small area of southwestern Australia. It can be found on some smaller islands near Western Australia, especially Rottnest Island, which is close to Perth, and Bald Island, near Albany. Small groups also live in forests and coastal heath between Perth and Albany. A small group of quokkas lives in a protected area of Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, where they share the habitat with the critically endangered Gilbert's potoroo.

Description

A quokka weighs between 2.5 and 5.0 kg (5.5 to 11 lb) and measures 40 to 54 cm (16 to 21 in) in length, with a tail that is 25 to 30 cm (9.8 to 12 in) long. This tail is shorter than those of other macropods. The quokka has a strong, compact body, powerful back legs, rounded ears, and a short, wide head. Although it resembles a small kangaroo, it can climb small trees and shrubs up to 1.5 meters (4 ft 11 in) tall. Its fur is coarse and grayish brown on the outside, turning lighter, almost yellowish, underneath. Quokkas typically live for about 10 years. They are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night and rest during the day. They sleep in plants called Acanthocarpus preissii, using the plant’s sharp spikes for shelter and safety.

Quokkas mate with many partners. After one month of pregnancy, females give birth to one baby, called a joey. A female can have two babies each year and may have about 17 joeys in her lifetime. The joey stays in its mother’s pouch for six months. After leaving the pouch, it continues to drink milk from its mother for two more months and is fully weaned by about eight months old. Female quokkas reach sexual maturity after about 18 months. If a female with a joey in her pouch is chased by a predator, she may drop the baby to the ground. The joey makes noises to draw the predator’s attention, allowing the mother to escape.

Discovery and name

The word "quokka" comes from a Noongar language word, which may have been "gwaga" or "gawaga." Today, the Noongar people use either that name or another one that has been written in English as "ban-gup" or "bungeup."

In 1658, a Dutch sailor named Samuel Volckertszoon wrote about seeing "a wild cat" on the island. In 1696, a Dutch explorer named Willem de Vlamingh thought the animals were giant rats and renamed the Wadjemup island "t Eylandt 't Rottenest," which means "the rat nest island" in Dutch. Vlamingh first described them as "a kind of rat as big as a common cat."

Ecology

Quokkas on the mainland live in areas with more plants because this provides more food and helps them hide from predators like dingoes, red foxes, and feral cats. In the wild, quokkas are only found in a small area in the Southwest region of Western Australia, where they live in small, separate groups. A large group lives on Rottnest Island, and a smaller group lives on Bald Island near Albany. These islands do not have the predators that threaten quokkas on the mainland. On Rottnest Island, quokkas are common and live in many different habitats, including dry, shrubby areas and cultivated gardens. They use prickly Acanthocarpus plants for shelter during the day because these plants are difficult for larger animals to walk through. Quokkas are also able to climb trees.

Diet

Quokkas, like most large kangaroo-like animals, eat many kinds of plants, such as grasses, sedges, and leaves. A study showed that Guichenotia ledifolia, a small shrub in the Malvaceae family, is one of the quokka's preferred foods. Visitors to Rottnest Island are warned not to feed quokkas because eating human food, like chips, can cause thirst and not getting enough nutrients, which harm their health. Even though there is not much fresh water on Rottnest Island, quokkas need a lot of water, which they mostly get by eating plants. On the mainland, quokkas live only in areas that receive 600 mm (24 in) or more of rain each year. Quokkas chew their cud, like cows do.

Population

At the time of colonial settlement, quokkas lived in large numbers across an area of about 41,200 km (15,900 sq mi) in the South West of Western Australia, including Bald and Rottnest Islands. By 1992, their range on the mainland had decreased by more than 50%, shrinking to about 17,800 km (6,900 sq mi) due to population declines in the 20th century.

Although quokkas are common on small offshore islands, they are classified as vulnerable. On the mainland, they face threats from introduced predators like red foxes, cats, and dogs. They need dense ground cover for protection. Habitat loss from logging, farming, and housing development, along with the clearing and burning of swamplands, has contributed to their decline. Quokkas typically have one baby per year, and while they mate often, their small litter size, limited space, and predators make it difficult for their numbers to grow.

An estimated 4,000 quokkas live on the mainland, with most groups having fewer than 50 individuals. One group of over 700 exists in the southern forest between Nannup and Denmark, but it is declining. In 2015, a bushfire near Northcliffe killed about 90% of a local mainland population of 500 quokkas.

In 2007, Rottnest Island had between 8,000 and 12,000 quokkas, with snakes as their only predator. Bald Island, where quokkas have no predators, had 600–1,000 individuals. Each year, quokka numbers on Rottnest Island drop during late summer and autumn due to reduced vegetation and water, which can cause starvation.

Quokkas experienced their greatest decline from 1930 to the 1990s, losing over half their range. Their numbers and range continued to decrease after the 1930s, and today they are only found in small groups near Perth.

In late 2024, a new quokka population was found in the Perth Hills. This is the first time quokkas have been seen there by the public and is an important discovery for their conservation. Their exact location will remain secret.

The quokka is now listed as vulnerable according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's standards.

Conservation

The quokka is not in danger of completely disappearing, but it is considered threatened. As the climate changes, the Australian landscape is also changing. Quokkas are herbivores, meaning they eat plants, and they depend on native plants for both food and shelter. Studies show that quokkas prefer to eat plants from the malvaceae family and use shrubs for protection during the hottest times of the day. However, factors like wildfires and human activities have altered the locations of these plants, making it harder for quokkas to find them. Invasive species and environmental changes are the main threats to quokkas. Research indicates that quokka populations on the mainland live in areas with average rainfall between 700 mm and 1000 mm. This becomes more difficult as Southwest Australia becomes drier.

Temperatures have risen quickly since the 1970s in the southwest of Western Australia, which affects where quokkas can live. Climate change is reducing the best living conditions for quokkas and changing the availability of their food sources. Because of this, quokkas are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. Severe bushfires also pose a serious risk to quokkas. After bushfires, quokka populations recover slowly and take a long time to return to areas that have been heavily burned.

Human interaction

Quokkas have little fear of humans and often come close to people, especially on Rottnest Island, where they are found in large numbers. While quokkas are friendly and approachable, there are about a few dozen cases each year where quokkas bite people, often children.

There are rules about feeding and touching quokkas. It is against the law for the public to handle these animals, and feeding them, especially with "human food," is strongly discouraged because it can make them sick. The Rottnest Island Authority can issue a fine of $300 for breaking these rules. The Rottnest Island Police may also arrest someone for such actions. The highest punishment for animal cruelty is a $50,000 fine and up to five years in prison.

In addition to rules about human interactions, quokkas have been found to carry high levels of salmonella, which can be dangerous to humans, especially during hot summer weather. Scientists have tested wild quokkas on Rottnest Island by taking blood samples to confirm this.

Quokkas can also be seen at several zoos and wildlife parks in Australia, including Perth Zoo, Taronga Zoo, Wild Life Sydney, Australia Zoo, Adelaide Zoo, and Caversham Wildlife Park. Touching quokkas is usually not allowed unless staff members give permission.

Studies have looked at how quokkas behave around people in zoo settings. One short study found that fewer quokkas were visible near visitor paths when enclosures were open or walk-through spaces. Researchers think this might be because the quokkas learned to avoid people, which could affect how zoos manage stress in these animals during public displays.

Quokka selfies

In the mid-2010s, quokkas became well-known online as "the world's happiest animals" and symbols of positivity. Photos taken from the front show their faces in a way that looks like a human smile, though this is not true. Their facial structure by chance creates this appearance. Many images of quokkas with this look have spread widely on the internet, leading to a social media trend called the "quokka selfie." Celebrities such as Chris Hemsworth, Shawn Mendes, Margot Robbie, Roger Federer, and Kim Donghyuk of iKON have participated in this trend. Because of this attention, more tourists have visited Rottnest Island.