Disappearance of the “Happiest Animal in the World”--The Quokka (Claire Blachowski)

(CREDIT: nationalgeographic.com)

DISAPPEARANCE OF THE “HAPPIEST ANIMAL IN THE WORLD”

The Quokka—Vulnerable Endangered Australia Native 

The Quokka—or should I say the “happiest animal in the world—is a macropod marsupial from the species Setonix brachyurous.

With its heart-warming smile, teddy bear ears and fluffy round form, the quokka, "Australia’s happiest marsupial," is recognizable for its tiny upturned smile has charmed animal lovers around the globe (Huffington Post).

The truth behind the grin, however, is not so sunny and the headlines aren’t looking too bright.  These furry creatures have topped the scale for vulnerability and face the reality global extinction.

Australia has more endemic non-fish vertebrates than any other nation—83% of mammals are found nowhere else on Earth (The Wilderness Society).  The quokka is a very endemic species native to Southwestern Australia, specifically Rottnest and Bald Islands.

Weighing in at 2.7kg (5.95lbs) to 4.2kg (9.3 lbs), and just 400mm (15.75 in) to 520mm (20.5 in) in length, this friendly looking macropod (meaning large-footed) is quite similar to the Australian-native wallaby (Quokka Recovery Plan). 

What’s Down the Road to Recovery

(CREDIT: www.environment.act.gov.au)

Australia’s Department for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population & Communities recovery plans detail the steps toward recovery necessary to urgently and effectively impact the threats to species survival.

The Australian government’s objective outlines a ten-year recovery plan projection.  The current goal is to, at minimum, maintain the quokkas current distribution and abundance.  However, the agency predicts “A change in the status of this taxon to anything less threatened than ‘vulnerable’ is unlikely within the next 10 years” (Quokka Recovery Plan).

With such efforts, the conservation status of the quokka will hopefully not achieve the IUCN’s conditions for a higher level of threat, if existing populations of the quokka remain and both human-induced and natural threats to quokka populations are managed.  Stabilizing the quokka’s geographic range and halting the loss of additional populations is the department’s primary undertaking (Quokka Recovery Plan).

­

More About the Quokka
Geographic and Population Changes 

(CREDIT: ENDANGERED SPECIES BIOMES PROJECT)

Quokkas can be found in the southwestern corner of the content of Australia, but they prefer a complex grid of recently fire-burnt areas, typical of Australia’s northern jarrah, or eucalyptus forest.  Quokkas usually occupy a range of forest, woodlands and wetland ecosystems.  in the southern Australian forests, “varied fire-age mosaic best predict the probability of occupancy of the quokka…” (Western Australian Wildlife Management Program).

Reduction of quokka population size is positively correlated with a loss of vegetation and reduction of water in the area, because quokkas require a variety of biofuel sources such as leaves, grasses, and plants as they are herbivores.

A number of spatially separated groups of the same species which interact at some level create a network of metapopulations. 

(CREDIT: maps.iucnredlist.org)

Rottnest Island is the largest existent quokka population is on Rottnest Island where the size and reported population estimates vary.  There is extensive native vegetation, but limited supply of freshwater. 

The northern jarrah forest has become a critical survival landscape for the quokka.  Often, quokkas appear as metapopulations dispersed throughout the area and are susceptible to change through fires, rain and predators.

Not Just Cute and Quirky--More About the Quokka
Description and Ecology

(CR-EDIT: www.abc.net.au/news) 

Females quokkas are breed throughout the year and have a non-delayed gestation period of 27 days.

Specifically, on Rottnest Island and Bald Island, quokkas breed once per year.  The quokka’s offspring become independent and leave the pouch between 175-195 days old.  The young joeys reach maturity at about one year old (Quokka Recovery Plan).   

They are known to live more than 10 years in the wild.                           

(CREDIT: heartforanimals.com)

Mostly nocturnal and a browsing herbivore, quokkas eat mostly leaves and stems (Our Endangered Animals).  Quokkas can store fat in their tails, in preparation for fluctuating seasonal food availability. 

            Although some populations have adapted to the human invasion of habitat, guaranteed easy food from tourists, these macropods are rapidly losing their homes to urban development.                                                                       

Known By Another Name
Listing Date and Type of Listing

The quokka is now listed as “vulnerable” according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because of its small range and highly fragmented metapopulations (IUCN). 

The Quokka is unfortunately a 20-year veteran of the Western Australia list of “fauna which rare or likely to become extinct” (IUCN).  Since its first listing in 1996, the quokka has suffered a decline in geographic range, reduction in the number of known populations and threats from feral predators like foxes, cats and pigs.

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of 1999 declares the Quokka as Vulnerable.  The Western Australia Wildlife Conservation Act of 1950 classifies the Quokka as a Schedule 1, rare or likely to become extinct. 

According to a study performed by Lesley Gibson in 2010, the quokka’s extinction is likely to

occur as soon as 2070 if preventative measures are not taken (Columbia Science Review).

It was found by Johnson in 1989 that quokkas had experienced an 85-90% decline in their geographic range on the mainland of Australia, which launched their identification as a high priority species for Australia’s conservation management.

Why Are Quokkas Disappearing?
Threats to its Continued Existence 

When it was first discovered, the quokka had a widespread population that included much of south-west Western Australia as well as Bald and Rottnest Island.   However, by 1992, the quokka’s distribution had been reduced by almost 50%.   

DECLINE

The quokkas are at great risk of becoming locally extinct, due to each metapopulation’s encounter with some of the following external factors: 

(CREDIT: Blachowski)

The presence of the fox, since the 1930s, has been a critical factor in the decline of Australia’s quokka population. Foxes have a wide range of expansive habitat, which puts pressure on many small metapopulations of quokkas. If the fox population can be controlled, perhaps quokka populations will strengthen. For example, there has been recorded evidence on Rottnest Island that quokka populations have reached comparatively high alpha populations where foxes are absent. 

(CREDIT: Blachowski)

            (CREDIT: environment.gov.au)    

Feral cats have not been found to impactfully decrease existing populations of quokkas and many endangered Australian animals. Often, they carrying diseases and prey on young quokka joeys. These pests are considered a key threat, although they are very hard to control.

(CREDIT: Blachowski)

Feral pigs have the ability to indirectly affect the viability and future of the quokka through destruction of habitat.  Without proper food resources and disrupted environment, the population density of the quokka can be compromised. 

(CREDIT: Blachowski)

Logging and habitat destruction can directly diminish quokka populations and metapopulations.  Approximately 60% of recorded quokka populations are sustained within logging areas.  Therefore, clearing efforts pose a deadly threat to the species based on mortalities both during and post-logging actions.  As a result, the quokkas’ habitat mosaic becomes exposed habitat.   

(CREDIT: Blachowski)

Whether naturally occurring or deliberate, fires have significant impact on the potential quokka populations.  Remember, quokkas prefer recently burnt ecosystems, for the high levels of biodiversity post-fire.  Fires can be a double-edged sword, however. The absence of large fires in the ecosystem can affect the opportunity for bio-fuel growth and regeneration, but ecosystem exposes quokkas to many predators and limits their shelter.  This destruction of habitat is harsh, but “quokkas are well adapted to fire,” Dr. Manda Page of the Department of Parks and Wildlife acknowledges.

  (CREDIT: konicaminolta.com)

Environment exposed to increased human activity is a potential threat and disturbance to the quokka.  Rerouting of waterways through systems of dams and bores has resulted in the depletion of water in water-based ecosystems such as wetlands, home to quokkas.  Lack of water in wetlands decreases their size, therefore decreasing quokka’s habitat range. 

  

(CREDIT: ENDANGERED SPECIES BIOMES PROJECT)

Like many threatened and endangered species, the quokka is deeply affected by global climate change, decrease in the amount of rainfall and increased temperature.  Climate change not only affects fauna but the local flora as well.  Ultimately, it is up to human action to save the decline of the quokka. 

How We Can Halt This Decline

Description of Recovery Plan

      

SURVEY & MONITOR

Ø  Investigate the impact of feral animals on quokka metapopulations.

Ø  Develop methods to monitor and quantify species growth or decline.

Ø  Implement camera traps to observe quokka populations.

Ø  If necessary, bring quokkas into captive breeding programs to save.

MANAGE KEY POPULATIONS & HABITATS

Ø  Protect other plants and vegetation used for food in the quokka’s habitat to develop a strong backbone for the ecosystem.

Ø  Manage logging and clearing destruction by making efforts establish a protected or preservation separation between quokka populated habitats (Quokka Recovery Plan).

Ø  Prevent further fragmentation of the habitat by creating appropriate buffer zones to encourage growth and establish habitat corridors.

Ø  Monitor number and persistence of predators and feral animals, especially feral cats and pigs (Quokka Recovery Plan). 

Ø  Work in collaboration with the South Coast Integrated Fauna Recovery Project to help curb the impact of feral cats on threatened species, particularly the quokka (Quokka Recovery Plan). 


EDUCATION & COMMUNICATION

Ø  Review appropriate fire procedures introduced in the DEC’s Quokka Fire Management Guideline No S5 which describes burn regimes and procedures to minimize the impact of fire on quokka populations and habitat (Quokka Recovery Plan).

Ø  Establish a sign and billboard campaign extending into the buffer zone to decrease human impact that leads to degradation of habitat.

Ø  Encourage conservation behavior at sites where tourism and quokkas collide (Quokka Recovery Plan).

IMPROVE KNOWLEDGE OF THREATS

Ø  Educate local farmers and logging companies on the environmental impacts of their trade by forming a discussion forum event in the community.

Ø  Stress long term implicit benefits of species and ecosystem diversity versus the short term explicit costs.

Ø  Investigate how these and other local threats are impacting subpopulations.   Focus on clearing activities, eliminating those with any detrimental effects.

How We Can Save The Quokka
What can you do? 

           

As a tourist of the quokka’s very limited region, do not engage with these animals in any way, such as petting or feeding them.  Please spread this caution to other tourists in the area.

While it is okay to document your quokka sighting, please do not disrupt them or take selfies with the little creatures, as Buzzfeed.com has attempted to popularize.  To ensure their health and stability in the ecosystem, it is best to have as little human interaction as possible. 

 
   


  Take a guided tour instead! According to Rottnest Island’s attraction website, during the months of September through November, you are likely to see quokka joeys emerging from their mothers’ pouches to hop around. 

  Buy less wood products and products that require logging in Southwestern Australia to limit the demand for clearings. Save the quokka’s habitat!

  Support #LoggingataLO$$ with donations or sign a petition to end logging of native Australian forests, which strives to establish a National Park in this region. 

10 Things You Need to Know
Other Resources

Quokka at the Australian Museum

Quokka’s Recovery Plan

Quokka’s Listing

“The Happiest Animal in the World” via Huffington Post

Australian Geographic’s List of Australia’s Endangered Species

Visiting Rottnest Island & Southwestern Australia

Quokka Rescue

Feral animals

Buzzfeed perpetuates the Quokka Selfie Trend

Quokka Video: Up-Close andPersonal

WORKS CITED

“Australia’s Biodiversity – A Summary.” The Wilderness Society. 10 Dec. 2015. 20 Nov.

2016. <https://www.wilderness.org.au/articles/australias-biodiversity-summary>

“Australian endangered species list.” Australian Geographic. 17 June 2014. 21 Nov. 2016.

<http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2014/06/australian-endangered-species-list>  

DeCandia, Alexandra. “’World’s Happiest Animal’ faces extinction: A story of climate change

and quokkas.” Spreadscienceblog. 18 Oct. 2013. 20 November 2016. <https://columbiasciencereview.com/2013/10/18/worlds-happiest-animal-faces-extinction-a-story-of-climate-change-and-quokkas/>

“Feral Animals in Australia.” Australian Government Department of Environment and

Energy. 2016. Commonwealth of Australia. 20 Nov. 2016. <https://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive-species/feral-animals-australia>

Grenoble, Ryan. “Meet the Quokka, the happiest animal in the world.” Huffington Post.  15

Aug. 2013. 19 Nov. 2016. < http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/07/quokka-happiest-animal-in-world_n_2426133.html>

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. International Union for Conservation of Nature

and Natural Resources. 16 Nov. 2016. 19 Nov. 2016. <http://www.iucnredlist.org>  

Kennedy, Sharon. Woods, Meghan, “Wildlife scientists take steps to protect endangered

species like quokkas following bushfires.” ABC. 6 Sept. 2016. South West WA. 20 November 2016. <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-06/wildlife-scientists-take-steps-to-protect-endangered-species/7819744>   

“Our Endangered Animals.” Konica Minolta. 2016. 20 Nov. 2016.

<http://www.konicaminolta.com/kids/endangered_animals/library/field/quokka.html>

“Quokka.” Australian Museum. 2016. Nov 23 2016.

<http://australianmuseum.net.au/quokka>

“The Quokka.” Endangered Species Biomes Projects. 18 Feb. 2016. 19 Nov. 2016.

<https://endangeredspeciesbiomesprojects.wikispaces.com/Quokka>

“Quokka (Setonix brachyurus) Recovery Plan.” Australian Government Department of

Environment and Energy. 2016. Commonwealth of Australia. 20 Nov. 2016. <https://www.environment.gov.au/resource/quokka-setonix-brachyurus-recovery-plan>

Rottnest Island. Rottnest Island Authority. 21 Nov. 2016.

<http://www.rottnestisland.com/the-island/about-the-island/quokkas-and-wildlife>

Quokka Rescue. 13 April 2016. 21 Nov. 2016. <http://www.quokkarescue.org/help-out.html