Quokkas from Rottnest Island

SeaBreeze

SeaBreeze

Endlessly Groovin'
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Maybe some of our new members are familiar with these little guys, and can tell us more about them. Quokkas are from Rottnest Island, off the coast of Perth Western Australia. The Quokka is the only member of the genus Setonix. It's a small marsupial about the size of a pet cat.

Like Kangaroos and Wallabies, the Quokka is herbivorous and primarily nocturnal. They roam free and wild on Rottnest Island, and are not afraid of cameras. They are a protected species on the island.

 

Tadpole hails from that area and has more info probably. I've only seen them on film but they seem to have evolved into the ultimate panhandlers. They play those tourists off a break.

Unsolicited trivia alert:

One of the early Dutch explorers spotted them and thought they must be the biggest rats on the planet so he named the island Rat's Nest. (Rottnest)

They're really cute though aren't they? and one of the few native species not recorded as having inflicted any damage. :cool:
 
Interesting fact about the name Di! And yes, they are cute. :)
 

I've seen them. Rottnest Island is a popular holiday destination and the quokkas can easily be seen as you walk or cycle around the island. They ignore tourists oohing and aahing over them and just go about their business of eating most of the day. They are so quiet that they have on occasions fallen victim to hoons who think it smart to play quokka soccer. The penalty for harming them is very severe though because public outrage is very strong.
 
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