Quokkas were first described by the Dutch sea captain Willem de Vlamingh, who reported finding “a kind of rat as big as a cat” on the island. The crew named the quokkas’ island Ratte nest (“rat’s nest”), then promptly sailed away, presumably toward something more inviting.
The quokka (Setonix brachyurus) is the only member of the genus Setonix and one of the smallest members of the macropod (“big foot”) family, which includes kangaroos and wallabies. Nocturnal marsupials, they have round ears, are between 16 to 21 inches (40.64 to 53.34 centimeters), and weigh up to 11 pounds (5 kg), about the size of a domestic cat.
Quokkas make their home in swamps and scrublands, tunneling through brush to create shelters and hideouts. Quokkas spend the day sleeping, often under Acanthocarpus preissii plants in a sitting position. They emerge from their shelters at night to forage for food.
The marsupials have two stomachs, eat leaves and grasses, and can go some time without eating or drinking. When water is scarce, they opt for water-storing succulents, and when the good leaves are out of reach, they climb up the trees to get them. The quokka is a survivor and doesn’t settle for useless food.
They’re listed as a vulnerable species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, and we’ve seen their population dwindle in recent decades from predation. In mainland Australia, foxes are the main threat to quokkas. However, since they live primarily on Rottnest Island and Bald Island, they’re afforded some protection.
They’re the only land mammal on Rottnest Island, with faces that seem to perpetually smile, which has endeared them to humans, who’ve dubbed them the happiest animals on earth, and they’ve become something of a tourist attraction and social media stars. People travel to Rottnest Island just to take a selfie with the happy critters. What they may not know is they’re also helping the population. People use the tourism dollars to reinvest in the quokkas’ future by researching the best ways to conserve the species.
Amongst themselves, quokkas are primarily easy-going. Males don’t fight over choice females, food, or water, though they’ll occasionally mix it up for a nice, shady napping spot. They can be vicious, though, to humans who annoy them, using their long claws to dig in and hold on.
For the most part, quokkas have adapted to the human presence in their environment. Campsites and condos are considered fair game for scavenging, and the animals have become notorious for raiding local homes to grab a late-night snack.
Quokka settlements have also sprung up near youth hostels and tourist sites, essentially anywhere the canny animals can get an easy meal. Cognitive science researchers have taken advantage of this by setting up shop in these same sites, knowing the animals won’t see them as a threat.
Business owners aren’t quite as amiable about the cohabitation. A local constable complained to the Daily Telegraph, “They wander down the streets and into cafes and restaurants.” Clearly, the two sides have some things to work out.
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