When it comes to cute animal pictures, there's no beating this cheeky creature, who may as well have wandered straight out of a feel-good kids' movie.
Meet the Quokka, a marsupial that seems to have come straight from an animator at Disney, but is actually native to a small corner of southwestern Australia.
Unlike a frightening number of Australian animals, the Quokka poses no threat to humans, and -- as these pictures make abundantly clear -- can be quite friendly.
That friendliness may partially explain why, according to the Perth Zoo, the once-plentiful Quokka was drastically reduced in number after the dingo and foxes found their way to Australia.
The animal is currently listed as "vulnerable," according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Thanks to conservation efforts and fox control programs, their populations are recovering in some areas.
Source
Meet the Quokka, a marsupial that seems to have come straight from an animator at Disney, but is actually native to a small corner of southwestern Australia.
Unlike a frightening number of Australian animals, the Quokka poses no threat to humans, and -- as these pictures make abundantly clear -- can be quite friendly.
That friendliness may partially explain why, according to the Perth Zoo, the once-plentiful Quokka was drastically reduced in number after the dingo and foxes found their way to Australia.
The animal is currently listed as "vulnerable," according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Thanks to conservation efforts and fox control programs, their populations are recovering in some areas.
Source
sweet, sweet, sweet. Love this furbaby.
I want t o come back as a Quokka!!!!
The Dalai Lama of small critters. <3
AWWWW that is such a sweet lil thing!!! sure hope he does not reach the endangered list..the world needs lots more of "HAPPY QUOKKAS" :)
beautiful :) great!! smiling for ever!!!
8:57 LOL+++
I will take one! When can I have it shipped ;)
so cute <3 <3
I want one!.. I would love it, love it, love it, love it!!!!!!
Awe the little creature would make an awesome friend._ I'd take him everywhere with me...lol.
makes the world a happier place :D
I have seen them a long time ago on my holiday in Austrlia. They live on Rottnest Island. Cute little animals!
Love that little face.. I want one.
I want your photographer to take all of my portrait photos from now on.
This little guy has G'Day written all over him!
There should be a Quokka behind every reception desk - (I know, I know, he doesn't use a phone or write messages...) Imagine what that wee smile would do for everyone!
It's grinning so much cause it's Australian
He is absolutely the most adorable critter! How big do they get?
I met lovely quokkas when I was 12, almost 40 years ago. I am an Australian who has travelled most of Australia and a lot of the world. Dingos came to Australia thousands of years ago, whilst the fox (and rabbit) was introduced by the British 200 years ago so they could continue to have fox hunts. What's this nonsense about "a frightening number" of Australian animals being a threat to humans? Humans are a threat to animals! Wild and natural places all over the world have danger from the weather, plants, insects and animals. Living and travelling in Australia is not as bad as reputed.
So very cute. I am a fan!!
That little face just makes you want to smile.
It's got to be happy. It hasn't met one of Australia's poisonous snakes yet.
@hoeby Point taken. Anyway there's no harm if this animal brightens up a person's day just by seeing it.
Hahah not only the happiest, but also look like the cutest :)
@hoeby Point taken, yes, but there is also a point to the saying "ignorance is bliss." I think Joan Evangelista's point is that much like hearing laughter is contagious, this little guy's face can't help but make your day. Anyway, whatever its state of mind, he can't be more miserable than you are!
He's Adorable. He even sleeps with a smile on his face. How cute.
so cute,,,,luv him!!!!!
SO CUTE! Holy crap they're adorable!
After marinating it for 4-6 hours, I would like to smoke/grill one 'til the flesh falls from the bone and feed it to my neighbor's dog.
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An animated movie is coming indeed...
Thank you... made my day!
Thank you... made my day!
So cute!! :)
always smiling
what a sweet looking little animal
Ha ha they look cute here but have seen these things, they also have a big long tail that makes them look like giant rats, they are abundant on rottnest island (dutch for rats nest) and it is they that the island was named for, Michael, Sydney
Every one should be sooo relaxed
there soooooooooooo cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<33333333333333333:):):):):):):)
I want one!!! Don't you just want to kiss his little nose?
omg that is soooo cute!!!! hey anonymous person u r an asshole just cuz he is extinct!!! if u were going to b extinct u want ur mother to throw u in the trash cuz she knew u were going to die u fucking fat ass!!! u r fucking ungrateful!!!!
This is me!!!
Aboriginal prisoners who used to be held on rottnest island used to use them as footballs it was called quokka soccer
She cant smile it need every thing smily
Socute ilove him
such a lovely animal.
Can we please have some way of automatically rejecting trolls from this beautiful website? They need psychological help, not an audience.
To the trolls: Your online behavior does not cause a horror in people, it's just boring and pathetic. You didn't have enough love when you were little, sorry about that, but please take your acting out somewhere that will get you the meds and counseling that may help you feel better. This is not that place. Desecrating the beauty and grace of the world does not make you well, does not relieve your pain, does not even release your anger. It's just a petty annoyance for us, and a waste of your life.
Love those smiles! Tho I think the wombat is just as cute
@hoeby: our fragile emotions? it's you who's all worked up at people for saying that this animal is cute. nobody here actually implied that the animal is actually expressing his feelings.they are just saying this guy's face makes them smile anf that happens because our brains are made to empathyze with others that share traits with us. it's you who's bothered by these people's happyness. what a huge idiot.
Yes...!!!! I saw this cutie at Perth's zoo, when I went to Australia, this and the koala were my favorites...!!! They cuddle on your chest...!!! :)
Thank you for sharing this information with us. Never heard of them. Adorable! May they live a long and happy life free in the wild, where they belong.
Cute animal
I love kicking those little cunts
That little fellow is precious. A real cutie.
love it anti cute
cute animal
I think this comes from their winter sleep
http://games-gameworld.blogspot.com
so sweet
Love them (I'm Aussie) Another cute one is the Quoll
They live with snakes all day long king browns and Red belly black snakes Aussie though and though .WE here in W.A love them and would not ever export them . So don't even think about it
Thanks for sharing