Fun Quokka Facts for Kids

A Quokka stands about as tall as a football on its end and has the powerful back legs of its bigger Kangaroo cousins. Its naturally upturned mouth has earned it the label “the world’s happiest animal”, but there is much more to this little marsupial than the expression that made it famous.

From climbing shrubs to carrying joeys and finding water in the plants they eat, Quokkas are full of surprises. They may be known around the world for selfies, but even their name has a surprising story. There is also exciting Quokka news unfolding right here at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Read on for Quokka facts for kids, including where they live, what they eat and what is really behind their famous expression.

12 Fun and Interesting Facts About Quokkas

Here are 12 fun facts about Quokkas for curious kids and grown-ups who still love a good animal fact.

1. Their Famous Smile Is All in the Shape

That distinct Quokka smile is not just for the camera. Their mouths naturally curve upwards, and panting to keep themselves cool can make their grins appear even wider. It is easy to see why they’re labelled as the happiest animals in the world.

2. They’re Part of the Kangaroo Family

Despite the name, a Quokka isn’t a rat or a rabbit. It’s a macropod, in the same family as Kangaroos and Wallabies. Its scientific name is Setonix brachyurus, though “mini Kangaroo with round ears” is easier to remember.

3. A Baby Quokka Is Called a Joey

Like other marsupials, a mother Quokka carries her tiny baby, called a joey, safely in a pouch on the front of her body. A joey stays snug in the pouch for around six months, then keeps drinking its mother’s milk until it’s fully independent at around eight months old. A Quokka can live to about ten years old.

4. A Mother Can Pause a Pregnancy

This one sounds like science fiction, but it’s real. It’s called embryonic diapause: A tiny embryo can wait inside its mother until environmental conditions improve. It then begins developing again and, once born, makes its way to the pouch to continue growing.

5. Rottnest Island Was Named After a Mistake

In 1696, Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh spotted Quokkas scurrying around a small island and mistook them for giant rats. He named the island in Dutch, and the English translation is Rats’ Nest Island, which became Rottnest over time. The Quokkas, of course, were never rats at all.

6. They Can Climb Trees

Most of the time a Quokka stays on the ground, but it can scramble up to about 1.5 to 2 metres into shrubs and low branches to reach fresh leaves. That’s a trick its bigger Kangaroo cousins can’t manage.

7. They Can Go Months Without a Drink

Green leaves and juicy native plants hold enough moisture to keep a Quokka going for months without drinking fresh water, as long as there’s plenty to eat. It’s a handy skill for an animal that spends a lot of time in warm, dry country.

8. Their Stomach Has a Hidden Fermentation Chamber

Tough leaves are hard to digest, so a Quokka’s stomach has an enlarged chamber where tiny microbes help break plant fibre down. A cow chews its cud to manage the same problem. A Quokka doesn’t. Its stomach does the hard work instead.

9. They’re Mostly Active at Night

A Quokka rests in the shade through the heat of the day and comes out to feed around dusk, dawn and through the night, so it can be tricky to spot in the middle of the day.

10. They Build Their Own Little Tunnels

By pushing through the same patches of thick, low scrub again and again, Quokkas create narrow runways they use like hallways between resting spots and feeding areas.

11. That Smile Doesn’t Mean What You Think

A Quokka’s cheerful expression comes from the shape of its face and its open-mouthed panting, not from how it’s feeling. It’s one of the most shared Quokka facts online, and also one of the most misunderstood. A face isn’t a feeling, even on the smiliest animal in the world.

12. Even the Friendliest Face Is Still Wild

On Rottnest Island, touching or feeding a Quokka is against the law, and wildlife parks everywhere ask guests to follow the same rule. Admire that famous grin from a respectful distance, and leave the hands-on care to the Keepers who know each animal best.

FAQs About Quokkas

Where Do Quokkas Live?

In the wild, only in the south-west of Western Australia. The biggest population is on Rottnest Island, with a smaller group on Bald Island near Albany and small mainland groups in reserves such as Two Peoples Bay and the Stirling Range, sheltering in jarrah forest and coastal heath.

What Do Quokkas Eat?

Quokkas are herbivores, eating leaves, stems, grasses, seeds and shrub buds. On Rottnest Island they browse heavily on succulents, and they store extra fat in their tails to help them through leaner times.

Are Quokkas Endangered?

Quokkas are listed as Vulnerable, not Endangered, on the IUCN Red List and under Australia’s EPBC Act. The Rottnest Island Quokka population is estimated at around 10,000 to 12,000, but the mainland Quokka population is far smaller and under pressure from habitat loss, introduced predators such as foxes, feral cats and feral pigs, and a changing climate.

Are Quokkas Only on Rottnest?

No. Rottnest Island holds the largest and best-known wild population, but Quokkas also live on Bald Island, in small mainland pockets of the south-west of Western Australia, and in specialist care at wildlife sanctuaries around the country, including right here at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. We’re part of a team of wildlife parks working together to protect Quokkas, which is why a couple of new smiley friends have just moved into Quokka Nook.

Are Quokkas Native to Australia?

Yes. The Quokka is a native Australian marsupial, found in the wild nowhere else on Earth. It’s one of many remarkable Native Australian animals found only on this continent.

Are Quokkas Dangerous?

No. Quokkas aren’t aggressive, but like any wild animal, they can bite or scratch if they feel cornered or handled. The safest and kindest approach is the same one our Keepers use with every animal in their care: admire from a respectful distance, and leave the care and feeding to the professionals.

There’s always more to discover about Australia’s wildlife, and plenty more facts about Quokkas still to come once Quokka Nook opens its doors. Browse Animal encounters and plan your next visit to the Gold Coast’s #1 attraction. Some very smiley new friends are settling in.