Quokka (Setonix brachyurus) lives in island scrub across Western Australia. It feeds on leaves and grass. Its conservation status is Vulnerable.
Fascinating facts about the Quokka
- Quokkas are about the size of a domestic cat, weighing just 2.5 to 5.0 kg and measuring 40 to 54 cm long with a short 25-to-30 cm tail. Males tip the scale at 2.7-4.2 kg while females are lighter at 1.6-3.5 kg, yet they can scramble up shrubs and small trees as high as 1.5 m.
- A female quokka can give birth twice a year after a 27-day gestation, producing a single joey that spends six months in her pouch before staying for another two months on milk. Over a lifetime she averages 17 joeys, and she reaches sexual maturity at about 18 months. but on the mainland the low litter size limits recovery from predation and habitat loss.
- When Europeans first arrived, quokkas roamed roughly 41,200 km² of southwestern Australia; by 1992 that range had shrunk by more than half to about 17,800 km². Today only ~4,000 remain on the mainland, while Rottnest Island supports 8,000-12,000 and Bald Island 600-1,000. A 2015 bushfire wiped out 90 % of a local mainland group of 500, underscoring how fragile the remaining mainland colonies are.
- Quokkas need a wet environment: on the mainland they only occupy sites receiving at least 600 mm of rain annually, while many isolated groups persist where rainfall is 1,000 mm or more. A study showed the healthiest mainland colonies live in zones getting between 700 mm and 1,000 mm, a range now shrinking as climate change dries the Southwest, tightening the water-budget they rely on for food and hydration.
- Quokkas show little fear of people, often approaching tourists, yet a few dozen bites to children are reported each year. Handling them is illegal and can attract a $300 infringement notice, while feeding them human food can cause dehydration and malnutrition. Scientists have also found high Salmonella infection rates, especially in summer heat, meaning close contact can pose health risks to both quokka and human.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeWestern Australia
HabitatIsland scrub
DietLeaves and grass
About the Quokka
In the sun-drenched islands off Western Australia, a small, endearing marsupial roams, its smile as wide as the bright blue skies that stretch above. The quokka, with its sturdy legs and gentle pace, moves through the scrubby undergrowth with a quiet confidence, its inquisitive nature and friendly demeanor having captivated the hearts of all who encounter it. As it pauses to nibble on a leaf or gaze up at its surroundings, its tranquil presence seems almost otherworldly, a testament to the simple joys of life in this fragile, beautiful world.
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