The quokka may be the cutest animal you’ve never heard of....

[The Librarian]

The quokka may be the cutest animal you’ve never heard of. They’re found only in the southwestern part of Australia where there are only about 20,000 in the wild. The quokka is about the size of a cat or rabbit, with a long skinny tail that sometimes get the quokka mistaken for a rat. But once you see their big black noses and smiling mouths you won’t think quokkas look ratty at all. Quokkas are actually more closely related to Australia’s famous animal the kangaroo. Quokkas, especially the ones on Rottnest Island, aren’t afraid of people. In fact they often come right up to people or visit cafes and campsites looking for free meals. Unfortunately human food doesn’t agree with quokkas so there are rules against feeding them. The best food for a quokka is plants – they actually get most of their water from eating leaves and grasses, which helps them survive Australia’s often very dry weather. A quokka can even go months without drinking water. The main reason for the quokka’s extreme cuteness is its face, with that little smile that makes them seem super-happy. That may just be the way the quokka’s mouth is shaped though. Quokkas also open their mouths to pant, like dogs, when they get hot, which sometimes look like the quokka is giving us a big smile. Whatever the reason it’s a smile that’s hard to resist!

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[Martha Braun Amistadi]

Praise Jehovah. He loves us so much.