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The quokka was once abundant in all swampy areas that skirted the coast of
South West
of
Western Australia
and was destroyed in great numbers for food.
When humans wanting to procure quokka as they evidently fired the bush for one side and then waited with spears in the clearing on the other side.
Today, the quokka is generally rare on mainland that survives it reasonable numbers on Bald and Rottnest islands.
Rottnest
Island
was so named in 1696 by the Dutch navigator Willem de Vlamingh because he mistook the abundant quokka as the large rats.
On
Rottnest
Island
these small kangaroos have a short breeding season which starts in January (with births in February) if the season is mild, but in March if it is hot. The gestation period is about 27 days. Like most kangaroos, the female mates again the day after giving birth. At the second embryo then developed until it is about the size of the pinhead and is made up of one only about 100 cells. At this point is development stops unless the first young is prematurely lost from the couch. If this happens, development of the second young resumes and the second young is born. Pouch life last about six months and sexual maturity is achieved by the end of the second year. |