Have you ever wondered what the happiest animal on the planet is? It might be the “laughing kookaburra” – a bird in the kingfisher subfamily Halcyoninae with a white head and brown-striped eyes, or perhaps the hyena with its ever-present grin. However, it is a fact that these creatures do not actually laugh in the literal sense.
Quokka – The happiest animal in the world. (Photo: Grunge).
In fact, the laughter of spotted hyenas tends to be a sign of stress or aggression. Sarah Benson-Abram from Michigan State University, after observing them in their natural habitat for a long time, concluded that: “Spotted hyenas are often quite stressed. They tend to giggle when they are being attacked.”
To inject a bit of positivity into this overwhelmingly dark world, perhaps humans are the happiest creatures on the planet. Humans laugh, tell jokes, dance, seek companionship, and take time to enjoy their favorite pastimes wherever possible.
However, putting all of this aside, the “happiest animal in the world” recognized by many is a close relative of the kangaroo. Unfortunately, this species is currently at risk of extinction, and perhaps unusually, humans are not the only factor contributing to this unfortunate reality.
Quokka is endangered.
The Cutest Animal in the World
The quokka is a marsupial native to Rottnest Island near Perth, Australia. With a short, coarse, brown-grey coat, small round ears, and a black nose, this adorable creature is often referred to as the short-tailed wallaby.
Aside from Rottnest Island, a small population of quokkas also lives inland in Western Australia, as well as on Bald Island, a small island in the southwestern part of Australia.
Quokka groups inhabit territories protected by dominant males. They typically reside in tall grasslands near water sources.
Quokka often lives in tall grass near water sources.
Quokkas are herbivores, primarily foraging at night, which means they are nocturnal. Besides grass, they consume leaves, stems, and bark from various plants. If necessary, they can survive for long periods without food or water by relying on fat reserves stored in their tails.
Quokkas often dig water holes and can extract moisture from succulent plants like cacti, although this species can actually live for months without drinking water, due to their ability to recycle some of their waste.
Why are Quokkas Disappearing?
According to a report by Britannica, “quokka” is a member of the Wallaby family – a group of marsupials native to Australia. This adorable creature, also known as the short-tailed wallaby, has gained popularity on social media in recent years, thanks to its quirky feature of appearing to smile while posing in the cutest ways.
The quokka is relatively small, standing about 53 cm tall and weighing under 5 kg, according to data from the San Diego Zoo.
This adorable creature, also known as the short-tailed wallaby
Naturally, this has made the quokka a popular partner for selfies among tourists. According to Rottnest Island Wildlife, quokka is the only native marsupial on Rottnest Island, located off the coast of Western Australia.
Rottnest Island is home to the largest population of quokkas, and although they are a major attraction of the island, their large numbers and appeal can easily lead to encounters with humans. Reports suggest that humans should leave these nocturnal creatures alone, refrain from feeding or approaching them, and instead observe and admire them from a distance.
No matter how strictly these quokka respect rules are followed, the number of these rare creatures is still declining. Scientists claim that other animal species are to blame.
Other animals are causing the decline in quokka populations.
An Uncertain Future for Wildlife
In February 2020, EJ Scholtz and LRG DeSantis published a study “Invasive Species, Environmental Change, and Restricted Range and Population of Quokkas”. The study, published in the Journal of Zoology, addressed the emergence of European species such as goats and red foxes and how the habitat and feeding habits of quokkas have changed in response.
According to the study summary, quokkas had a limited habitat in Western Australia before the arrival of invasive European species, and that continues to be the case.
There has been a clear change in the foraging environment of quokkas.
However, some things have changed: “There has been a clear change in the foraging environment of quokkas on the Australian mainland, from more open forests to shrubland in the Pleistocene, to denser and wetter forests. Moreover, where they do not share habitats with invasive species, their diet mainly consists of drier and tougher food.”
In conclusion, according to researchers, “the limited range of quokkas today is likely the result of predation by non-native species and/or other human impacts – not due to a lack of suitable habitat.”
Vanderbilt University, where the researchers hail from, further explains that many quokkas on Rottnest Island had safely existed before the arrival of foxes, which were not found there.
However, the lack of water has killed many of them on this island. Unfortunately, these factors are only expected to worsen as global temperatures rise.
As DeSantis stated, “Essentially, we are playing a game of red and black with native species in Australia.”
