Quokka Facts Infographics
Quokkas Are Believed to be the World’s Happiest Animals
Quokkas are extremely sociable animals who are curious, fearless, playful, and generally very cute to humans; especially since some actually appear to smile. They’ve adapted to people in populated areas, as well as to those who visit them on their isolated islands. Their antics with each other, with some other animal species, and with human beings, have led many Australians to dub them the “happiest animals in the world.” Zoologists don’t think this is actually true, however. They believe people merely interpret quokka behavior that way.
Quokkas Occupy Only a Small Portion of Australia
The first of our quokka facts reveals that their habitat is very limited. Though almost as iconic to Australians as kangaroos, quokkas only occupy a few portions of the country. On the mainland, most live in the Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, which is a protected area.
Quokkas Need Very Little Water
Another of our quokka facts involves just how little water they need in order to survive. Although these animals prefer to live near bodies of water, they rarely ever drink. This is because they can extract most of the water they need from the plants they eat – their favorite being the guichenotia (a flowering bush). When water supplies are low, and so long as their food supplies remain stable, quokkas can go without water for as long as a month.
Quokkas Eat Their Food Twice
Quokkas Produce No More Than Two Offspring a Year
Quokkas on the mainland mate frequently, but females rarely have more than one child a year. At most, they’ll have two. Those on Rottnest only breed from January to March when it’s cooler. Gestation only takes one month, after which time babies make their way into their mothers’ pouches for protection, warmth, and to suckle. Infants are called joeys and stick with their mothers for several months before going off on their own. After a year, they’re ready to mate.
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