Buzz
We’ve all encountered those viral photos that pop up from time to time: a small, furry creature grinning at the camera, a leaf, or a tourist. From this charming collection—which, unsurprisingly, went viral—we can gather two key points: 1) the furry little animal is known as a quokka, and 2) this quokka is often dubbed the happiest animal on Earth. The photo gallery even claims so.
However, reality is often more complex. While the quokka is celebrated for its cheerful demeanor, it also has a less-known, tougher side. What exactly is a quokka? How is its name pronounced? And do they truly live up to their carefree reputation? Dive deeper to uncover the facts and the truth behind that iconic smile.
1. Quokkas belong to the marsupial family.
A quokka on Rottnest Island. | Paul Kane/GettyImagesQuokkas are nocturnal marsupials and among the smallest in the macropod (or “big foot”) family, which includes kangaroos and wallabies. They inhabit swamps and scrublands, digging through vegetation to create shelters and venturing out at night to forage for food.
They are the sole land mammal on Rottnest Island and have grown into a popular tourist attraction. Dutch sea captain Willem de Vlamingh first described quokkas, noting they resembled “a kind of rat as big as a cat.” He named their island Ratte nest (“rat’s nest”) before departing, likely in search of less peculiar wildlife.
When it comes to pronunciation, dictionaries provide two choices. North Americans typically say kwo-ka (rhyming with mocha), while others prefer kwah-ka (rhyming with wokka wokka
2. The quokka isn’t as harmless as it looks.
Always respect wildlife. | Paul Kane/GettyImagesThe so-called “world’s happiest animal” isn’t all smiles and sweetness. While it may be hard to believe, quokkas have sharp claws on their large feet, which they aren’t afraid to use.
Journalist Kenneth Cook discovered this firsthand when he attempted to interact with a quokka on a dirt road. Cook observed the animal’s “small, menacing mouth” but assumed it was too tiny to cause harm. In his 1987 book Wombat Revenge, he described the quokka as “a malicious-looking beast” but approached it anyway. He offered it a piece of apple, which the quokka rejected, and a bit of gorgonzola cheese. The quokka ate the cheese, chewed, and then, as Cook recounted, “collapsed in a dead faint.”
Believing he had accidentally poisoned the animal and desperate to save it, Cook placed the quokka’s limp body into his backpack, left a small opening for air, and cycled furiously down the road in search of assistance. After a few minutes of rough riding, the quokka started to regain consciousness and clumsily crawled out of the backpack, claws leading the way.
Too afraid to stop or turn around, Cook continued pedaling. The quokka latched onto his neck, screaming loudly in his ear. As the bike raced forward, the quokka bit down on Cook’s earlobe and dangled there like a heavy, furry earring. In a daze, Cook accidentally rode his bike off a cliff and into the ocean. When he surfaced, he saw the quokka on the shore, glaring and growling at him.
While the story sounds unbelievable, Cook isn’t the only one to fall victim to this seemingly charming creature. Despite their teddy-bear ears and innocent eyes, quokkas are fully capable of defending themselves. Every year, the Rottnest Island infirmary treats numerous patients for quokka bites.
Among themselves, quokkas are generally peaceful. Males rarely compete over mates, food, or water, though they might occasionally squabble over a prime, shady resting spot.
3. Quokkas have learned to exploit humans.
Quokkas are on a mission to steal your snacks. | Allan Baxter/The Image Bank/Getty ImagesQuokkas, known for their curiosity, charm, and boldness, have adapted remarkably well to human activity. They’ve become infamous for sneaking into homes and campsites, especially at night, in search of food. Their colonies often form near youth hostels and tourist hotspots—areas where they can reliably find meals. Researchers studying animal behavior have taken advantage of this by setting up studies in these locations, knowing the quokkas will cooperate.
On Rottnest Island, these curious creatures have become a bit of a headache for local businesses. “They stroll down streets and wander into cafes and restaurants,” Senior Constable Michael Wear explained to the Daily Telegraph in 2003.
However, their interest in humans isn’t limited to food—they also find us entertaining. While tracking a female quokka named Imelda through the brush at night, conservationist Matt Hayward (then a visiting fellow at the University of New South Wales) noticed he was being followed. “I heard footsteps approaching,” he shared with National Wildlife in 2007. Each time he turned off his tracking device, the footsteps stopped. Just as his fear peaked, he said, “a small head peeked out from behind a bush.” It was Imelda, his unexpected stalker.
4. The quokka is surprisingly tough.
A mother quokka isn’t opposed to extreme measures for survival. | Lea Scaddan/Moment/Getty ImagesConsider the quokka the antithesis of the panda. While pandas seem intent on driving their species to extinction, quokkas are resilient survivors, willing to do whatever it takes to endure.
For instance: Pandas spend 10 to 16 hours daily foraging and eating, primarily because bamboo—their main food source—offers little nutritional value. Quokkas, however, balance their time between munching on leaves and grasses and resting in shaded areas. During droughts, they consume water-rich succulents [PDF]. When tasty leaves are out of reach, they simply climb trees. Quokkas refuse to settle for subpar meals.
Both pandas and quokkas have been known to sacrifice their young, but the key difference lies in intent (or the absence of it, in the case of pandas). When a quokka mother is chased by a predator, she will expel her baby from her pouch. The ejected joey flails and hisses, drawing the predator’s focus while the mother makes her escape to survive and reproduce again [PDF]. It’s a ruthless yet effective survival tactic.
Panda cubs, however, those rare and highly valued offspring, have tragically died when their mothers accidentally crushed them.
5. Quokkas are not suitable as pets.
Admire from a distance—never touch. | Paul Kane/GettyImagesUnfortunately, wild quokka populations are dwindling due to invasive predators such as foxes and cats encroaching on their habitats. They must remain in the wild. Attempting to smuggle or cuddle them is also prohibited: Rottnest Island officials impose a $300 fine on anyone caught touching a quokka.
6. Quokkas do smile—but their happiness remains a mystery.
That’s simply the quokka’s natural expression. | M F/500px/Getty ImagesBehavioral scientist Clive Wynne’s research debunked the myth that quokkas were “exceptionally unintelligent”—a belief he even found in scientific texts. While these cheerful creatures don’t possess “extraordinary cognitive abilities,” Wynne explains, “they’re far from foolish. They’ve evolved the necessary skills over millions of years to flourish in their environment.”
So, what’s behind their smile? According to Wynne, the quokka’s Mona Lisa-like grin is simply “a quirk of evolution.”
