Quokkas are fascinating creatures and always seem to have a smile on their face? How much do you know about them?

1. Baby quokkas are carried around in their mother’s pouch!

Baby quokkas are called joeys and are just like kangaroos; their mothers carry them in a front pouch.

2. Quokkas are about the same size as a pet cat!

Quokkas are around the same size as a domestic house cat and weigh anywhere from 2.5kg to 5kg, making them the smallest type of wallaby in Australia.

3. Quokkas climb trees for their food!

Quokkas don’t just eat grass and foliage on the ground. They can also climb trees to reach their sources of food.

4. Quokkas are closely linked to kangaroos and wallabies!

Quokkas are part of the kangaroo and wallaby family, also known as the macropodidae, a family of marsupials.

5. Quokkas sleep a lot during the day!

Quokkas are mainly nocturnal and sleep in shady bushes to stay out of the heat during the day. Once the sun goes down, then they’re ready to start their day.

6. Quokkas are prepared for when there’s not much food around!

Quokkas store fat in their long tails and use it when food is scarce. Their tails can measure up to around 30cm.

7. Quokkas are herbivores!

Quokkas are herbivores and eat native grasses and the leaves, stems and bark of a variety of plants. They don’t chew their food, like a cow would. Instead, they just put their food into their mouth and swallow. No messing around.

8. Quokkas are very trusting creatures!

Quokkas are naturally curious animals and often approach humans. You must not touch or feed them, no matter how cute they are.

9. Quokkas can be found off the coast of western Australia!

Quokkas are native to Rottnest Island off the western coast of Australia, but they can also be found on Bald Island and on the mainland. An estimated 10,000 quokkas live on Rottnest Island!

10. Why do quokkas smile?

They known as the world’s happiest animal for their adorable smile. When quokkas smile, they’re actually panting to cool themselves down.

11. You can pronounce quokka in two different ways!

In Australia, the locals pronounce quokka as ‘kwa-ka’. In the United States of America, they say ‘kwo-ka’.

12. The first quokkas were discovered hundreds of years ago!

Quokkas were first discovered in the 1600s by Willem de Vlamingh, who first thought he’d spotted a giant rat! He named the island Rattennest, which means ‘rat’s nest’ in Dutch, and was later named Rottnest Island.

13. Quokkas are peaceful animals!

You may have seen photographs or videos of kangaroos boxing each other. Even though they’re part of the same family, quokkas are laid back and happy to share their space with others.