They look like they are smiling, they pose for photos, and they have charmed the entire internet. This small, furry, cat-sized marsupial from Western Australia has become famous worldwide, but there is far more to this happy-faced critter than a good photo angle. Here are the most interesting facts about the quokka, a species scientists call Setonix brachyurus, from its odd name to its surprising survival skills.
So What Exactly Are They?
Despite the mouse-like face, it is a macropod — closely related to kangaroos and wallabies. It stands about 16 to 21 inches tall (40–54 cm) and weighs 5.5 to 11 pounds (2.5–5 kg), roughly the size of a small wallaby. Like all macropods it carries its young in a pouch, hops on strong hind legs, and grazes instead of hunting.
The famous “smile” is simply the shape of its jaw and fur — but it has earned the species a permanent title. Rottnest Island is home to the world’s largest quokka population, and the island’s residents are known as the happiest animal in the world, a nickname no other creature has managed to claim.
A Dutch Naming Story
In 1696, Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh sailed past the island and saw these little animals hopping through the scrub. Mistaking them for giant rats, he named the island ‘t Eylandt ’t Rottenest — old Dutch for a nest of rodents. The name Rottnest stuck, and the creatures he mistook for pests turned out to be the friendliest wildlife on the continent. You will not find animals this approachable anywhere else in the world.
Quokka Habitat and Distribution
Quokkas live in a tiny corner of the world: the south-west of Western Australia. The biggest and best-known population lives on Rottnest Island, a short ferry ride from Perth, where quokkas on the island have grown used to people and happily pose near the settlement. A smaller group survives on Bald Island near Albany, and scattered mainland colonies persist in dense scrub around the south coast, though mainland numbers have crashed — more on that below. Planning to visit Rottnest Island? Our guide to the seasons helps you pick the right time of year, and the best times to see quokkas are early mornings and late afternoons when they are most active.
Daily Life: Sleeping, Climbing and Surviving
Quokkas are mostly nocturnal, spending the day sleeping and resting in the shade of bushes and grass tussocks. At night they emerge to feed across overlapping home territories, and they are better climbers than most of their relatives — quokkas can climb trees and scrub to reach fresh leaves, managing to climb up to two metres off the ground.
Even more impressive is their water budgeting. Quokkas can go for months without drinking fresh water, extracting nearly all the moisture they need from their food. It is a perfect adaptation to long, dry summers — and one reason they thrive on an island with almost no permanent water.
The Selfie Phenomenon
No animal has become a bigger social media star. Quokka selfies became a popular trend on social media after celebrities including Roger Federer, Margot Robbie and Chris Hemsworth posted theirs, and visitors now plan entire trips around getting the perfect shot. The rules are strict though: you can photograph them as much as you like, but touching or feeding them is against the law, and a fine can follow. They may look cuddly, but they are wild animals.
What Are the Babies Called?
Like all macropods, babies are called joeys. Females give birth to one baby at a time after roughly a month of pregnancy, and the tiny bean-sized newborn climbs unaided through the mother’s fur to safety. Mothers carry baby quokkas in the pouch for around six months. In good seasons, a female can effectively raise two babies at once — a newborn attached to a teat and an older joey at heel — producing two kinds of milk at the same time, which is an ability almost unique among mammals.
Are Quokkas Endangered?
The species as a whole is listed as vulnerable. Mainland colonies have fallen badly due to habitat loss and introduced predators, especially the fox and feral cats, and the mainland population is now patchy and scattered. Island populations are much safer, which is why Rottnest remains the stronghold. Conservation work — habitat protection, predator control and careful visitor rules — is what keeps the smile on the species. Meet more of the country’s wildlife in our Australian animals guide, or hop over to our kangaroo facts to meet their biggest relatives.
What Do Quokkas Eat?
Quokkas are herbivores. They graze on a variety of plants — native grasses, sedges, succulents and leaves — and get most of their food and water from vegetation. On Rottnest they particularly favour the succulent plants that survive the dry summer. Never offer them human food; it makes them sick and it is illegal.
Can You Touch or Feed Quokkas?
No. Rottnest Island rules prohibit touching and feeding, with on-the-spot fines, and visitors should never leave food or water where wildlife can reach it. The animals approach people out of curiosity, not affection — enjoy the moment from arm’s length.
Can They Swim?
Yes, quokkas can swim when they need to, though they prefer to stay dry and rarely take to water voluntarily.
Are They Dangerous?
Not at all — provided you leave them alone. A cornered or handled animal can deliver a nasty bite, so the no-touch rule protects both sides of the interaction.
What Do Quokkas Symbolize?
Joy, in internet culture at least. That permanent grin has made the species a global symbol of happiness and a fixture in lists of the world’s cutest animals.
References and Sources
- Rottnest Island Authority wildlife guide: rottnestisland.com
- State museum fact file: museum.wa.gov.au