The quokka is a marsupial belonging to the Macropod family that lives on Rottnest Island in southwestern Australia. Thanks to its particular expression, it is also known as the happiest animal in the world .

Apparently similar to the kangaroo , however, it has a smaller size than the latter and is more clumsy in movements.

We are talking about a marsupial just under 50 centimeters long that weighs approximately between 2.5 and 5 kilograms. It has a slightly stocky build , rounded ears, a friendly, smiling face and is at risk of extinction. 

Quokka: a bit of history

The term quokka seems to derive from an analogous idiom of the Australian aborigines. Legend has it that this animal was first discovered in the 17th century by a sailor who initially mistook it for a wild cat. 

Later he was spotted by the explorer Willem de Vlamingh who, confusing the quokka with a rat, decided to name the island populated by the unusual marsupial Rottnest (or mouse nest in Dutch, mother tongue of de Vlamingh). 

Protected species , Setonix brachyurus (this, in fact, is the scientific name of the quokka) is currently classified as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Increasingly rare, it is also considered to be at risk of extinction .  

The risk factors

Expansive agriculture and increasing deforestation are affecting and significantly reducing the natural habitat of the quokka. Currently, therefore, it lives in the southwestern regions of Australia and mainly on Rottnest Island.

These areas, however, over the years have become increasingly popular tourist destinations, so that man is also considered a threat to this protected species. 

The quokka, in fact, is a very sociable animal and this characteristic leads it to often eat harmful foods supplied by tourists.

The marsupial, in fact, is extremely fond of bread which, however, turns out to be a food that is poorly tolerated by its body. To remedy this, over the years special rules have been introduced that prohibit visitors from feeding quokkas , punishing offenders with high penalties. 

Finally, a further risk factor is given by the presence of predators in the continental areas in which it resides. This is the case, for example, of dingoes, but also of cats and wild dogs and foxes.