Often called “the happiest animal in the world”, Quokkas are a small marsupial related to Kangaroos. They stand at 40-54cm high, with a 24-31cm tail and weighing 2.7-4.2kg. Quokkas have grey-brown fur and small, rounded ears. Their body is quite rounded, and their hind legs are fairly short. In captivity, Quokkas have a lifespan of 5-10years.
Quokkas are nocturnal herbivores, feeding on fresh, young grasses, leaves and succulents, as well as plant roots, from which they can also acquire water. They have also been known to eat snails on Rottnest Island.
Quokkas live in family groups with a dominant male. Males will occasionally fight over sheltered territories; however groups of up to 150 individuals, consisting of several family groups, have been observed near water sources. In the wild, females generally will not breed between August-January; however in captivity they have been known to breed all year round. After a gestation period of 26-28 days, one joey will be born and make its way to the pouch. One day after giving birth, the female will breed again as a security measure for if the first joey dies. After 175-195 days of development in the pouch, the joey will leave the pouch and remain with the family group. Females reach sexual maturity at around 252 days old, and males at around 389 days old.
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