You might not have heard of the quokka before, but there's a good chance you've seen pictures of these funny animals floating around the internet. They're distinctive because of their cheeky little grins, and it's no surprise that they're often referred to as the happiest wild animals in the world.
Quokkas come from the same family as the kangaroo (called Macropodidae), and they live on a handful of small Australian islands such as Rottnest Island and Bald Island. They can live for up to ten years, and just like other Macropods, these cute animals are herbivorous and mainly nocturnal. Unlike much other wildlife, however, the quokka, which has a "vulnerable" conservation status, isn't very scared of humans.
They don't seem to be scared of pictures either, and there was even a craze a few years ago that saw people taking selfies with Quokkas. It might seem like a fun thing to do, but remember that anybody caught handling or feeding them can be issued with a fine of up to A$300. It's probably best to just leave them alone on their quokka island and enjoy this list compiled by Bored Panda instead. And no, before you ask, you cannot keep Quokkas as pets!
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Gimme A Hug
When you come home from running an errand, and your pet acts like you've been gone for years!
Smiling Even When Asleep
This is how i sleep, knowing that I'm single and there ain't no one out there cheating on me.
Smiling To The Camera
Thank You For My Leaf Human. You May Kiss My Snoot
Wanna Try?
Cute Quokka
When you have been hard core dieting for 6 days ... and its your cheat day!
Happy Together
Nom Nom Nom
Cuteness Overload
Little Happy Quokka
We kind of look like happy rabbits, except rabbits are cavys and we're marsupials.
Wink
"Sup girl ... know what this luscious coat is made out of? Boyfriend material...swipe right"
Quokka The Wizard
This Happy Quokka
An Apple A Day
Happy Chap
Happy Mama
Just Being Cute
The ears and the cheeks are the same shape, just different size! Ultra cute symmetry!
I Am Cute And I Know It
Always Camera Ready
Best Happiness Teacher
The Happiest Little Quokka
Happy Quokka
Omg, they're so cute it's not true, they look so cuddly, I would love to meet a troupe in its own habitat. Just awesome.
Quokkas Band
"yes human, arent we adorable? thats right, keep looking at us.... no one is sneaking behind you to steal your snacks...."
Quokkawwwww
Excited Quokka
If you're happy and you know it smile and get excited like a quokka!!!
So Pensive
Ah! Let's sit and just think happy thoughts like only quokkas can do.
Note: this post originally had 89 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.
Here is my quokka pic! quokka-58c...a5f897.jpg
*unnatural screams of death from the sheer quantity of adorable*
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the last sentence in the text, that you cannot own them as pets. This 'I MUST own this cute animal!' attitude of some people is maddening and can have terrible consequences (just see how many slow lorises are tortured daily) Thank you for not feeding that!
That was my first thought, Katina- people just love to own animals. Thank goodness their are protected.
Here is my quokka pic! quokka-58c...a5f897.jpg
*unnatural screams of death from the sheer quantity of adorable*
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the last sentence in the text, that you cannot own them as pets. This 'I MUST own this cute animal!' attitude of some people is maddening and can have terrible consequences (just see how many slow lorises are tortured daily) Thank you for not feeding that!
That was my first thought, Katina- people just love to own animals. Thank goodness their are protected.