You must have seen the viral images of a small cute brown furry critter beaming at the camera, tourist or a leaf. It seems that the Quokkas is world’s happiest animal. Read on to know some fun and interesting facts about this adorable animal.
Quokkas is a marsupial and arenative to Rottnest Island of Australia
This nocturnal animal shares the same family of bigfoot or macropod, which also includes wallabies and kangaroos, Quokkas being the smallest of all. They live in scrublands and swamps and make tunnels to create hideouts for the day; they come out at night to find food. They were first found out by the Dutch Sailer, Willem de Vlamingh, who described Quokkas as ‘a rat as big as a cat’!
Quokkas are known to be fearless, extremely inquisitive and cutely appealing.
Quokkasare known to be fearless, extremely inquisitive and cutely appealing. Over the years, Quokkas has learned to live off humans and often raid their homes, campsites or condos for some late-night snacks. Especially on Rottnest Island, they happily wander the streets and even visit cafes and restaurants. It’s not only about food; some have observed Quokka’s stalk humans.
Theworld’s happiest animal can cut you with their big feet have razor-sharp claws.
If you try to be funny with a Quokkas, it can cut you like anything. Each year the Rottnest Island records dozens of patients, especially children of Quokkas bites. Although they are a peaceful lot where the male quokkas don’t even fight over females, food or water, if you get naughty with them or breach their comfort level, they can be really nasty.
In Rottnest Island, there is a $300 fine on anyone who even touches a Quokkas.
You can’t pet any either. The wild population of Quokkas is declining as the predators such as foxes or cats tend to hunt them. In order to protect the Quokkas, the government has mandated that they need to stay in the wild, and any human interaction is strictly prohibited.
As the Quokkas smile, we don’t know if they are happy.
The smile may often be confused with dumbness. But researchers have concluded that Quokkas are not dumb animals, and they have all the skills to thrive in their natural habitat. Just like the Great White Shark, Quokkas have a permanent foolish grin.
Quokkas are badass gritty survivors who can do anything to stick around. Don’t go by their cute smile.
