Quokka

## About

A mother quokka and her joey.

The quokka ***(Setonix brachyurus)*** (pronounced QWOK-KA) also known as the short tailed scrub wallaby is a small marsupial native to the far southwest Australian island of Rottenest Island. The quokka is also known to be one of the smallest wallaby species native to Australia. They have a course brown and grey coat, rounded ears essential for acute hearing and a semi elongated snout. Quokka's reach a max length of around 40 to 54 cm (16 to 21 in) long with a 25-to-30 cm-long (9.8-to-12 in) tail and weigh in at around 2.5 to 5.0 kg (5.5 to 11 lb). though having relatively shorter hind legs than other macropod species they get around via hopping/bounding though when they are only walking they are usually using their arms to pull their body and legs forward, much like their kangaroo and wallaby cousins. Much like other marsupials quokka's posses a pouch in which a female quokka's offspring until they have reached independent maturity. Quokka's are often seen as a tourist attraction in Australia because of their incredible personalities and willingness to come up to humans, many a time they will be seen in the wild socialising with humans.

## Diet

According to Animalia.bio The quokka is a primarily herbivorous animal that generally only eats vegetation growing in their regions. They often will tunnel through areas that are densely vegetated filled with all of their food. Though on occasion they will eat fruits like berries. Quokka's will often seek a habitat that contains the most young sprouts and fresh grasslands. They see these places on Rottenest Island as territories and these territories are defended by dominant male quokka's. Though they try to seek habitats containing food quokka's generally do not have to travel far to find their desired food.

## Conservation Status

The quokka has been labelled as vulnerable via the IUCN with a decreasing population. Being vulnerable means that the quokka is or almost on the brink of becoming endangered. Quokka's are threatened by humans when it come to things like consistent logging in their regions and habitat modifications. Though quokka's also fall victim to the ongoing problems of droughts and fires in their habitats in which push them back in terms of population development. Though the number one source of quokka threat is introduced species in the Rottenest Island region. Animals like red foxes and stray cats which have led to a huge decline in the quokka's population. Though fox and feral cat control has been set in place it is still an ongoing issue happening to quokka's. Another threat is feral pigs which have been invading the quokka's swamp regions and causing severe habitat degradation. Climate change and a lack of rainfall has not seen to be overly serve but is predicted to be in the coming years.

## Range and Population

The quokka is endemic to a southwest region of western Australia (Rottenest Island). 100km south from the city Perth. According to the San Diego Zoo the quokka has adopted shrub-land and inland wetlands. On the islands quokka's will primarily live in densely vegetated regions that are also shaded for the quokka. They will try to find cooler climates often found in forests and swamps. Quokka's formerly were much widespread throughout the continent though due to European colonisation and the addition of red foxes in the 1930's the quokkas range was pushed back and the population saw a dramatic decrease. It is thought that the quokka's population has decreased by over 50% in the past century, with a current population of 7,500-15,000 individuals according to the IUCN. The quokka's range has decreased from 41 200 km to an astounding 17 800 putting alongside all the other rapidly declining marsupials.

## Behaviour

Quokka's are a very social group often being active at night in small troupes that has been seen to reach up to 100 individuals with one dominant male to serve as the leader. Because they are mostly active at night quokka's are recognised as nocturnal and spend most of their time during the night looking for food and resting places whilst in the day, sleeping underneath trees for cover. As said by Animalia.bio quokka's, like their close relatives wallabies and kangaroos, will move around on their hind legs to pick up more speed when running. Quokka's are generally seen as a terrestrial animal though can climb up to 1.5 metres on trees to look for food. Quokka's are also very well known to have a very loving personality that attracts people as they are a very known tourist attraction on Rottenest Island because of their love-ability towards humans.

### Relationship with Humans

Quokkas are seen as a face on Australia as on Rottenest Island and all the abundant regions that quokkas occupy it attracts a lot of tourists and a variety of people. Quokkas have been well known to approach people and do not mind human contact. Quokkas are rarely seen to have any sort of aggression towards humans apart from a few cases of the marsupial biting children. People see quokka's has a viral sensation because of there outgoing approach to humans as they see us no threat. This is due to quokkas possessing a trait known as island tameness, which developed due to quokkas not be accustomed to humans on European settlements. Though because of the amount of people coming to see the quokka's annually there have been laws put in place to keep people from touching the quokka.

## In Captivity

According to ZOOINSTITUTES the quokka is found in only 4 zoos worldwide including the extremely prominent San Diego Zoo. Much of these have had efforts had tried to stop the declining population in Australia and to educate people around the world. Though quokka's are generally rather seen in the wild than in zoos because of their outward appearance to the public.

## Sources

* Quokka | Animalia.bio - https://animalia.bio/quokka
* Quokka | IUCN - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/20165/166611530#conservation-actions
* Quokka | San Diego Zoo - https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/quokka
* Quokka | ZOOINSTITUTES - https://zooinstitutes.com/animals/quokka-1487/