Quokka

The quokka is a small macropod about the size of a cat, with a round face that appears to smile — a feature that made it an internet sensation. On Rottnest Island off Perth, quokkas have no natural predators and approach visitors with fearless curiosity.

Quokkas are herbivores, grazing on native grasses and succulents at dawn and dusk. On the mainland they are shy and declining, but the island population thrives and has become one of Australia's most beloved wildlife encounters.

Coastal scrub and woodland on Rottnest Island and a few mainland sites in Western Australia hold quokkas. They need dense vegetation for shelter and open areas for grazing, and depend on islands free from foxes and cats.