So, some of you might be wondering what the heck a Quokka is?!
They’re short, they’re fluffy, and they perpetually wear the cutest smile in the animal kingdom!
When National Geographic deems an animal "the happiest animal on earth" you take note. And sure enough, the smiling, teddy-bear sized marsupials known as quokkas get that name for good reason. While you can't have a quokka as a pet, you can find plenty of swoon-worthy photos of them here and online, or even take a trip to visit them on their native island (which they've practically infested with cuteness!). Sure, this adorable species may be fairly unknown to most of the world—but, frankly speaking, they deserve all the attention and more!
The word "marsupial" comes from the Latin marsupium, which means "abdominal pouch." Just like kangaroos, wombats, wallabies, possums, koalas, and other marsupials, quokkas have these, too – could they get any cuter?!
So, what exactly is a quokka? And what makes them so irresistibly cute? And why in the world do people love taking "quokka selfies" so much?! Well, wonder no longer. We've rounded up the best must-know facts about these little-known creatures.
What is a Quokka?
Quokkas are small wallabies (think: the same family as kangaroos, except these little guys have bodies that are 40-54cm in length) with short tails, short faces, and round ears on the top of their head. But the most notable attribute about a quokka is its face: All quokkas appear to be perpetually smiling, which is what earned them that sweet "happiest animal on earth" moniker.
Who first discovered them?
An early Dutch visitor to the island, Willem de Vlamingh, mistook the marsupials for large rats when he arrived in 1696. He named the island “Rattennest” (Dutch for “Rat’s Nest”), which was later adapted to Rottnest.
Where does the Quokka live?
Quokkas live in Australia, but even if you're a native of the region, you won't just find one in your backyard. These little guys are native to southwestern Australia (off the coast of Perth), with the biggest population residing on Rottnest Island. Aside from Rottnest Island, small groups of quokkas also inhabit the mainland in Western Australia, as well as Bald Island, a small island to the southwest. Groups of quokkas live in territories, which are defended by dominant males. They often live in tall grass near water sources. Quokkas can also climb trees! Impressive hey!
What does a Quokka eat?
Quokkas like to nibble on leaves, shrubs, grasses, and plants, which happen to be found in abundance on Rottnest, as well as mainland Australia. True herbivores, they especially love to munch on swamp peppermint. For leaner times, they store fat in their tales.
Conservation Status?
The IUCN Red List classifies the quokka as vulnerable due to declining populations and loss of habitat from logging and development. Find out more here - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/20165/166611530
The real "Selfie" masters?
These guys love humans and attention. They love posing for pictures with squealing tourists! If you’ve got a few minutes to burn and want a boost of cheer, google “quokka selfie” and see for yourself - more than 500,000 people visit the 7.3-square-mile (18.9-square-kilometer) Rottnest every year!
So now you know why the Quokka was the natural choice to represent our coffee brand! They simply inspire Happiness, so what better name to represent our coffee-based mission to improve business coffee across the UK and bring more smiles into the office!
For more information specific to what we at Quokka can do for you, head to: https://www.quokkacoffee.com/office-coffee
