Australiana 5! It's about time we had a cute one I reckon! lol.
By James72
@James72 (26790)
Australia
November 27, 2008 7:43am CST
I would like you all to meet the Quokka! A Quokka is what's called a "macropod" which means it belongs to the same genus as the Kangaroo and the Wallaby. They are also marsupials, so have a pouch; are herbivores and are most active at night.
These guys are only present on the West Coast of Australia and a few small islands off the coast; but the biggest concentration of them is on Rottnest Island which is off the coast of Fremantle, Western Australia. When Europeans first saw them on this island, they named the island "Rottenest" which is Dutch for "Rat's Nest" because these Quokkas looked like giant rats!
They are protected heavily and although people do feed them, you are not supposed to handle them and will get fined if you are caught. But I can understand why people wish to touch them because these are harmless, very furry and look cute and cuddly as well! Sort of like an Ewok I reckon! 
I hope you like the little dude as I have seen them on many occasions and they are wonderful little animals. 
I hope you like the little dude as I have seen them on many occasions and they are wonderful little animals. 4 people like this
10 responses
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
28 Nov 08
The cuddly furry guy has quite an attitude. Look at his eyes! Quite like me...
..
Thanks for the introduction, James! I better go and check Australiana 4, I guess I missed it!!
And looking forward to another installment of this, and if I can suggest: about Australia's spot-tailed quoll which is under threat of extinction.
..
Thanks for the introduction, James! I better go and check Australiana 4, I guess I missed it!!
And looking forward to another installment of this, and if I can suggest: about Australia's spot-tailed quoll which is under threat of extinction.
3 people like this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
28 Nov 08
I am quite a cutie with all those pounds...
And Tasmanian devil is a good tribute to myklj...lol..
And I had heard about the quoll some time back when i was researching for the endangered species..
And Tasmanian devil is a good tribute to myklj...lol..
And I had heard about the quoll some time back when i was researching for the endangered species..2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
28 Nov 08
He's like you mimpi? You must be a real cutie then! Australiana 4 was the Tasmanian Devil and he isn't a nice fellow at all. This is why I followed up with a fluffy, furry, friendly dude! lol. Thanks for the response and I will definitely add the Quoll to the list of ones to do as they are very unique and fascinating also. I appreciate the tip!
Australiana 4 was the Tasmanian Devil and he isn't a nice fellow at all. This is why I followed up with a fluffy, furry, friendly dude! lol. Thanks for the response and I will definitely add the Quoll to the list of ones to do as they are very unique and fascinating also. I appreciate the tip! 1 person likes this
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
29 Nov 08
Well James, you have finally found one I've neither met nor seen on the side of the road. I spent a small amoubnt of time in WA but never managed to get to Rottnest, so I've never seen one. But I must admit it also reminds me of a rabbit in some ways, but a cuter non-leaping one than its bigger cousins.
Lash
3 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
29 Nov 08
WHoo hoo! I finally got ya then Lash! I have been fortunate to see these little fellas many times as I spent ten years living in WA. They are definitely similar to a rabbit in size but their movements etc are more like the kangaroo, yes, with little hopping movements and the front paws on the ground forward movements with the back legs stepping together after this etc. I reckon your dog might actually have some fun with these ones and not get all funny. lol. Thanks for the response.
I have been fortunate to see these little fellas many times as I spent ten years living in WA. They are definitely similar to a rabbit in size but their movements etc are more like the kangaroo, yes, with little hopping movements and the front paws on the ground forward movements with the back legs stepping together after this etc. I reckon your dog might actually have some fun with these ones and not get all funny. lol. Thanks for the response. 1 person likes this
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
30 Nov 08
He's a great lumbering booby, so they are probably safe. The only two rabbits he caught, when a mere adolexcent, were a baby bunny that virtually jumped out of a clump of grass into his mouth, and a very sick and sorry half blind myxo'ed critter. But by the Gods does he love trying to catch them lol.
Lash
1 person likes this
. Now i can ask you where that came from ?@James72 (26790)
• Australia
28 Nov 08
It depends what you mean by "untouched" alok. For example, there are many, many regions, towns and natural landmarks etc that carry Native Aboriginal names (We now refer to Aborigines more as "Indigenous Australians") such as Ayers Rock which is in Central Australia, has been named back to it's original Aboriginal name - "Uluru" and other examples like the desert called Nullarbor which means "no trees" in the Aboriginal dialect. Many suburbs too carry Aboriginal names. But from a traditional culture perspective, yes you can see evidence of it throughout many remote areas of the country, but the original nomadic existence of the Aborigines is not common at all anymore. Here is some more info on our Native Australians if you are interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_Australians
2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
28 Nov 08
He is very cute indeed alok! They are not afraid of people either, so when you go to this Rottnest Island, you get surrounded by many of them. The ones on the mainland don't fare as well as the Island based Quokkas because of dogs and cats etc; but because there are no serious predators on the Islands, they flourish into far greater numbers. Nobody is allowed to keep them as pets as they are heavily protected and you will get fined if the Park Authorities catch you even touching them. The name has apparently been derived from an Nyungar Aboriginal word which was probably "gwaga" according to information I can find. It is certainly an unusual name! Thanks for the response.
2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
27 Nov 08
Isn't it wonderful that your kids have such inquisitive minds then riya! Here is a link that will help you to satisfy their curiosity: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quokka
Thank you for the response and enjoy question time with the little ones!
Here is a link that will help you to satisfy their curiosity: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quokka
Thank you for the response and enjoy question time with the little ones!2 people like this
@Daffodil20 (1754)
• India
28 Nov 08
Wow! another one! Quokka? Never even heard the name. More than teddy bear it looks like a furry squirrel. Shoo cute and shooooooooooo cuddly.
I see, another marsupial!! you are a great teacher where your country's unique animals are concerned and I am learning too. Hmm pouchy, herbi and nocti!! Are they. I do like it. Oh yes.
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
28 Nov 08
It makes me happy to be sharing animals that many people have never seen or heard of before! Furry squirrel is an interesting angle but these guys are more like the size of a cat so much bigger than a squirrel! They are a herbi and a pouchy as you call it, yes.... But this guy is also quite active during the day time so not quite as nocti as many others! They are definitely cute and cuddly and they have little or no fear of people, so are quite friendly as well. We are not allowed to touch them though otherwise we get fined. It is hard to resist touching one I can tell you because whole groups of them come up to you! lol. Thanks for the response Daffodil.
Furry squirrel is an interesting angle but these guys are more like the size of a cat so much bigger than a squirrel! They are a herbi and a pouchy as you call it, yes.... But this guy is also quite active during the day time so not quite as nocti as many others! They are definitely cute and cuddly and they have little or no fear of people, so are quite friendly as well. We are not allowed to touch them though otherwise we get fined. It is hard to resist touching one I can tell you because whole groups of them come up to you! lol. Thanks for the response Daffodil. 2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
29 Nov 08
There are so many tourists that visit this Rottnest Island and the more dependent the Quokka's become on human interaction, the less self sufficient they become and their species suffers. People feed them bread for example which is not good for them at all. I have to be hinest and say that I HAVE touched one and they are definitely cute and soft! I was lucky to not get caught too but I just couldn't help myself. This was also well over 15 years ago and they were less strict about it back then. They are cute enough to just look at anyways, so all is good with the protection initiatives and it will hopefully mean they will survive forever.
2 people like this
@Daffodil20 (1754)
• India
6 Jan 09
AHA !! First you bring so much of cuddly huggable happiness by creating this joyous post on Quokka, and then award me the BEST RESPPONSE. A double BONANZA!! lol. Thanks James.
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
28 Nov 08
LMAO! I had never though of it like that and yes, he DOES look like Chewbacca could have well of been his Father! lol. So I wonder who the Mother is then? Did Chewbacca get a bit frisky with one of those Ewoks? If he did it does sound ike one heck of a physical mis-match! 
Thanks for the response and for the laugh guys. I could not ask for a better start to my day!
I had never though of it like that and yes, he DOES look like Chewbacca could have well of been his Father! lol. So I wonder who the Mother is then? Did Chewbacca get a bit frisky with one of those Ewoks? If he did it does sound ike one heck of a physical mis-match! Thanks for the response and for the laugh guys. I could not ask for a better start to my day! 2 people like this
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
29 Nov 08
Ah James they are cute little critters. Not sure if they are cuddly but they are not dangerous like the Quoll. I had not seen this discussion before but I am glad you covered this very sweet little creature.
This is one I have met. I visited Rottnest when I was in holiday in WA 5 years ago. I also got to talk to wild dolphins up at monkey mia and that was nice too.
I had not seen this discussion before but I am glad you covered this very sweet little creature.
This is one I have met. I visited Rottnest when I was in holiday in WA 5 years ago. I also got to talk to wild dolphins up at monkey mia and that was nice too.2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
29 Nov 08
They are definitely cuddly sharra! Before they started getting more serious about handling them I had the pleasure of touching them when I was a kid in the late 70's/early 80's. Rottnest is beautiful as I am sure you will remember; and they have done a wonderful job in keeping modern luxuries like cars off the island which has helped immensely in keeping the nature there safe. Monkey Mia and Shark Bay are equally as impressive and you are very lucky to have seen this part of the world. Thanks for the response.
2 people like this
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
30 Nov 08
Awwww, how come Australia gets all the cute lil critters?
1 person likes this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
6 Jan 09
These animals are very unique and live only in Western Australia ammie. No-one keeps these as pets because it is illegal to do so. You are not even allowed to pat them and if a Park Ranger see's you doing this, then you will get a fine! They are being protected so their populations will increase. I have actually touched and fed them many years ago before it became illegal. They are very cute and move around like tiny kangaroos!
I have actually touched and fed them many years ago before it became illegal. They are very cute and move around like tiny kangaroos!
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
27 Nov 08
He DOES look like a little teddy bear doesn't he? lol. They are not very big animals and maybe get to around 50cm tall at the most; but they move just like a kangaroo and will hop around all over the place! I have always enjoyed them when I have seen them but it has been a long time since. Thanks for the response rodveiga.
1 person likes this
