What do they look like?
The Quokka is a small wallaby with thick, coarse, grey-brown fur with lighter underparts. Its snout is naked and its ears are short. Its short tail can reach 31cm long and tapers towards the end. Males grow to 54cm long and weigh up to 4.2kg, whereas females grow to 50cm and weigh up to 3.5kg. Although looking rather like a very small kangaroo, it can climb small trees and shrubs.
The Quokka is a type of small wallaby. It has thick greyish brown fur with lighter brown under surfaces. It has a brown face, short rounded ears, black eyes and a black nose. Its feet, paws and short tail are brown. The males are bigger than the females.
Where are they found?
In the wild, the Quokka is restricted to a very small range in the South-West of Western Australia, with a number of small scattered populations. There is one large population on Rottnest Island and a smaller population on Bald Island near Albany, which are free of foxes and cats.
The Quokka is a habitat specialist, preferring young low vegetation stages that have been burned within the previous ten years. The Quokka has relatively high water requirements, hence, the species is often present in riparian and swamp habitat.
The main habitat for mainland populations of the Quokka is dense riparian vegetation that provides refuge from predation by owls, foxes and cats.
Fast facts:
- OUR CONSERVATION STATUS
National: Vulnerable
State: Vulnerable (WA) - One day after the young is born, the female mates again and the embryo stays dormant in the female. If the young in the pouch dies within five months, the embryo resumes development and is born in 24—27 days. If the first young lives, the embryo degenerates. Under good conditions the second embryo can resume growth after the first young is successfully raised. The young leaves the pouch between 6—7 months, but will return if alarmed or cold.
Quokka
The Quokka is a type of small wallaby. It has thick greyish brown fur with lighter brown under surfaces. It has a brown face, short rounded ears, black eyes and a black nose. Its feet, paws and short tail are brown. The males are bigger than the females.
Quokkas sleep during the day in small groups amongst dense vegetation, becoming very active at night, when they gather around water holes with up to 150 other individuals.
Around 10,000 Quokkas live on Rottnest Island in Western Australia, but very small populations also survive on the mainland’s south-west forests. Overall, the species is listed as vulnerable due to predation by feral animals (cats and foxes), altered fire patterns and habitat loss.
Quokkas are herbivores, generally eating a variety of native grasses, leaves, seeds, roots and shrubs. However, they are able to rely on stored fats in their tails for energy during periods of time when food is scarce.
As anyone who has been to Rottnest would know, fresh water is in short supply, so it’s just as well that Quokkas can survive on very little of it – lasting up to a month without a drink. They also have a remarkable ability to regulate their body temperature, being able to cope with temperatures as high as 44°C.
Quokkas have a short breeding season which happens in late summer. Just 27 days after mating, a female can give birth to a single pink, hairless and blind joey, that stays in her pouch for up to 30 weeks.
Quokkas love:
- swamps and scrublands – Quokkas sleep during the day amongst dense vegetation but become very active at night.
- seeking shade – Quokkas look for the best shelter on hot summer days, allowing them to rest or sleep comfortably.
But they don’t like:
- cats and foxes – Quokkas are at risk of predation from these feral animals.
- land-clearing – which robs them of their preferred densely vegetated habitat and forces them into fragmented pockets.
- dry habitats and warmer temperatures – although highly adaptable, it is unclear how Quokkas will cope with a changing climate.
Try to:
- enjoy watching Quokkas on their own terms if visiting them at Rottnest Island or other places.
- take care when driving or cycling near where they live.
- keep your distance from Quokkas as they can catch diseases from humans.
Avoid:
- feeding Quokkas human food as this could be detrimental to their health.
- littering, especially near their habitats, as consumption of food high in salt leaves Quokkas dehydrated.
- intervening in Quokkas’ interaction with their environment, as this could lead to stress and a disruption of their lives.
Although Quokkas don’t visit our backyards, they need our help to keep their habitat clean and healthy. Simple things that you do can make a huge difference to Australia’s animals. That’s why the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife runs Backyard Buddies – to give you tips to help our wonderful wildlife.
