Man Meets A Quokka On His Bike Ride That Won’t Leave Him Alone

Sep 16, 2019 by apost team

Campbell Jones had an unforgettable animal encounter on Western Australia's Rottnest Island. Rottnest Island is known for its breathtaking scenery, pleasant weather, and its most famous inhabitant: the quokka.

For those of you who aren't familiar with quokkas, they are a small marsupial often called the happiest animal in the world. Quokkas are only found in Western Australia, their cartoonish appearance resembles a cross between a groundhog and a stuffed teddy bear, and they can be quite photogenic, especially when they smile.

Campbell Jones and his girlfriend were riding bikes on Rottnest Island when they realized they were being followed by a curious quokka. When Campbell kneeled down to get a closer look at the macropod, it jumped towards him, and his GoPro captured this incredible shot:

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Campbell's girlfriend also captured a few adorable shots of the Quokka getting to know its new friend. When the couple tried to leave, the quokka chased them. It clearly wasn't ready to say goodbye, no matter what the humans thought about this experience.

Quokkas are curious by nature, and since they have no natural predators, they often approach humans. That doesn't mean you should feed them or try to touch them. Dozens of people are treated for quokka bites every year at the Rottnest Island infirmary. Fortunately, Australia is free from rabies, but quokkas have sharp claws that can do some serious damage.

Despite the dangers associated with handling a quokka, many people are contacting Australian authorities to ask if they can keep one as a pet. Quokka populations are declining, so you won't be able to take one of these vulnerable animals home. In fact, anyone caught touching a quokka can be fined $300 says Mental Floss. We hope Campbell Jones didn't get in trouble for his viral Instagram post!

You may not be able to take a quokka home, but you can symbolically adopt one . When you donate to the World Wildlife Foundation, you'll receive a plush quokka, adoption certificate, an information card, and photos of the quokka in its natural habitat. Your donation supports the organization's conservation efforts.

We love hearing from our readers. What did you think of Campbell's photos? What Australian animal would you love to encounter? Let us know in the comments and ask your friends for their opinion!