A quokka is like a kangaroo, except of course a lot smaller, they also carry their young in a pouch. These cute little guys are not found all over Australia, they are on a few small Islands off the coast of Western Australia, and a very small number are on the actual mainland of Western Australia, but most live on a Island off the coast of Western Australia called Rottnest Island.
Geographic distribution of the Quokka
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
A Dutch mariner named Samuel Volckertzoon first sighted these animals on Rottnest Island in 1658, which he wrote of seeing “wild cats”. In 1696 a Dutch sea captain Willem de Vlamingh mistook them for giant rats and named the island Rotte nest which is Dutch for “rat nest”. The quokka can survive without fresh water far longer than most native animals, and they can also climb trees.
Setonix brachyurus quokka (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
An average quokka weights 2.5 to 5 kilograms or 5.5 to 11 pounds, they are 25 to 30 centimetres or 9.8 to 12 inches tall. Their diet consists of plants and leaves. They have no fear of humans at all, and on Rottnest it is illegal to handle the animals, and there is a fine if you get caught. They are classified as vulnerable, only because they are basically on the small Islands. On the mainland, their main enemy is foxes, and they tend to hide in very dense ground cover, on the Islands they do not have any enemies at all.
If you would like to learn more about the quokka the best article I found was at the Australian Museum web site, or there is also a small article in Wikipedia.
You also like to look at these other Australian animals from my blog:
Magsx2's Blog 
That beach is beautiful! What funny animals– they do look like a cross between cat, rat, and kangaroo!
Hi lolabees,
Rottnest is a lovely Island. I totally agree, it is like a mixture of all 3. 😀
Interesting! The beach is stunning! And the quokkas look so cute 😊 thanks for posting, Mags!
Congrats on posting about another uniquely Oz animal that I didn’t know existed! Cute little creature … of course that beach area looks like a difficult place for vacationing.
Hi Frank,
They are gorgeous, and not dangerous at all. 😀
Oh yes a very hard place to have a nice relaxing vacation, no cars at all, except for the wildlife society and the law, there is a bus service for those that cannot walk or ride a bike, there is also a road train, you mainly get around the Island either walking or by bike which you hire on the Island. 🙂
Rottnest Island does not appear to be the rottenest! Great story!
Hi Susie,
It is a beautiful spot, with the cute animals as well. 😀
This is another wonderful and great post dear Mags, the beach fascinates… and I am learning this cute animals… Thank you, with my love, nia
Hi Nia,
They are very cute, we have such a variety of animals here in Australia that I’m sure a lot of people have not heard of. 🙂
Yes, I can see this dear Mags and also there are amazing trees and plants and flowers… Fascinates me of course. Love, nia
Oh my gosh – I never heard of this animal before. I definitely learned something cool and new today — thank you!
Hi Laurie,
They are a beautiful little animal, and not many people have heard of them before, but hopefully a few will now know about the quokka. 😀
I had never heard about this animal before. What a little darlin’! So cute!!! Good thing that they aren’t threatened on that island.
What a beautiful beach! I wish Australia wasn’t so far away…
Hi reb,
They are little darlings, and of course everyone that visits or lives on the Island gives this little guy a lot of respect. 🙂
Yes it is a long way to OZ, we definitely are the Land Down Under, it is about a 22 hour flight from were you are.
Hi Mags – I love quokkas! Took my 7 year old nephew (from NZ) to the zoo when he was visiting a few weeks ago and he was fascinated by them, as well. Darling wee things! 🙂
Hi This Sydney Life,
They can win over any heart I think and they can also make you smile. 😀
Its definitely paradise for the little fellas :-).
Hi Windsmoke,
It certainly is, they know where to make their home. 😀
Rottnest Island is so pretty! What a relaxing vacation spot 🙂 I wish I was there right now! Quokka’s are so cute! I learned something new today~ thank you Mags!
Hi Adri,
It is a beautiful Island, made even more so I think because there are no cars. Oh yes, I think we all would love to be there now. 😀
The quokka is very cute, and very friendly as well.
They are kinda creepy in a cute sort of way.
Hi robincoyle,
If you saw one for real, you would most likely think it was a small kangaroo, especially the way it holds it’s 2 front paws when it sits on it’s hind legs, exactly the same as a kangaroo. 🙂
Funny that I never heard of them before.
I have blogged about a few Australian animals that some people have not heard of before, we have a few. 🙂
No wonder those poor explorers didn’t know what to make of these cute little Kangaroos! And they climb trees too! And they’ve got some “camel” in them too! HA! Their faces remind me of deer. They are the cutest little things ever! 🙂
Hi Linda,
They certainly are a bit of a mixture, the wonders of the animal kingdom. 😀
Especially in Australia, Mags!! You could do a whole separate blog just on the crazy critters there! 😀
I have a lot of posts on some of the more “unknown” animals of Australia, and there are some crazy critters amongst them. 😀
This is just a reminder of how much I’d love to travel to Australia – hopefully I’ll make it there someday!
Hi TSP,
I hope you do as well, I’m sure you would have a fantastic time. 🙂
I’m not sure which is prettier, the kangaroo or the island.
Hi writingfeemail,
The Island and the quokka’s are equally gorgeous. 🙂
Mags,
you’re MAKING IT EASY FOR US TO READ YOUR BLOG INSTEAD OF TAKING THE LONG, EXPENSIVE TRIP TO AUSTRALIA.
Hi Ronnie,
Oh yes a lot cheaper for everyone, and no jet lag either. 😀
They’re cute little guys, for sure. And how nice to have their own island 😀
Hi Selma,
A beautiful Island it is too, and with no predators, you just can’t get anything better than that. 😀
At first glance, I thought that you were writing about “The Rottenest Island in Australia”. I had visions of rotting trees for a minute, then read it properly.
Those little fellows look lovely. Haven’t they got thick fur? It reminds me of bush wallaby fur and that of possums.
Hi Lady Marilyn,
Easy enough to see the word Rottenest at first glance, Rottnest is an unusual name. 🙂
I totally agree with you, their fur is very similar to the wallaby and possum, very thick.
They look like big squirrels….how cute are the quokkas . 🙂
Hi Soma,
They are very cute. 😀
I have to wonder how on earth scientists found out that the quokka can suffer from muscular dystrophy but glad they did and that the animal helps in research to cure the disease.
If you don’t hear from me for a while it’s because I’m busy moving to Rottnest Island. Phew, gorgeous!
Hi EOSR,
Yes, the article doesn’t say how they found out the quokka can suffer from this, it is very interesting.
I’m sure you would have a few people following you to the Island as well. 😀
Just beautiful 🙂
Hi Doraz,
It sure is. 😀
Cute critters and a heavenly island. 🙂
Hi E.C.
The Island is very nice, the type of place you just do not want to leave, and the quokka’s just add to the beauty of it all. 😀
I hadn’t heard about the quokka myself until a few years ago, they are such cute little guys.
A very interesting and informative post from you again Mags!
Hi barb19,
Thank You. 🙂
The quokka’s are a beautiful little animal, and just so friendly. 😀
Thank you for being my tour guide..they are fascinating!
Hi zannyro,
They are a little bit different, but so cute. 😀
How could I have made it to the age I am and not heard of quokkas? Aren’t they the cutest things? I love wallabies, and these look like they are even smaller and cuter than those. Australia continues to fascinate! I would love to share a beach with these little guys.
Hi Donna,
They are very similar to wallabies, but smaller, and these little guys can climb trees, which of course wallabies and kangaroos cannot do. Can you imagine laying on the sand and having these little guys running past you every now and then. 😀
That’s just amazing! We went to a couple of beaches in NSW that had roos roaming freely. So different from Southern California, my home area. Minus people, plus kangaroos. And now how we’d love to get over to WA and see this place. Gorgeous beach, as well.
It is a gorgeous Island, it is only about 11 k or about 7 miles from the mainland, easily done as a day trip if you ever decide to come back to Oz for a holiday.
I have never been to America, but would dearly love to go one day. 🙂
I hope you can get there!
Pretty Beach! Cute little guy and tree climbers too.
Hi starlaschat,
They are strange little guys, but definitely cute. 😀
Happy Friday! I nominated you for the Sunshine Award. Come check it out: http://blessedwithastarontheforehead.wordpress.com/
Hi A Star on the Forehead,
Thank You very much for thinking of me. 🙂
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Hands « Mike Hardisty Photography
HI Mags,
This one is really beautiful. You gave me one more reason to love your country. Love this post.
Hi Arindam,
That’s great. I hope that one day you will be able to have a holiday in Australia. 🙂
Well, as I ate my Weetabix and prunes, I had to pretend I was in that glorious place in the video. I have never seen or heard of those lovely cute little creatures before – that’s what I love about blogging – we learn something new every day.
Hi loonyliterature,
You are so right about blogging, the things we learn about places and other country’s I am sure we cannot learn anywhere else. 🙂
I’m glad you have seen something different, it is a beautiful Island, and now you know about another little Aussie animal. 🙂
Yes, thank you so much for spreading so much enjoyment.
Very beautiful Island. Never heard about Quokka,your posts are very informative,thanks.
Hi Indira,
It is a beautiful spot, and not many people had heard of the quokkas, I’m glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂
Quokkas! Is there no end to the fascinating animals you’ve got there down under, Mags?! What a lovely island, too. It seems like beaches the world over are so similar in some ways, and yet very unique in other ways. Thanks for introducing me to the quokkas found there. 🙂
Hi Barbara,
They are little cuties the quokkas. 🙂
Yes I agree, some beaches are very similar the world over, glad you enjoyed the post. 😀
Is a beautiful post I hope that one day you will be able to have a holiday in Australia.
Hi Stefan,
This Island Is very beautiful, no cars allowed on this Island, there is only 1 bus for those people that cannot walk or cycle and of course a police car, and the wildlife people also have a car, but the quokkas come first on the Island. 🙂