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They look like puppets and not real living wild animals.

They’re famous for selfies. They look like they’re always smiling. People call them the happiest animals on Earth.

But when danger comes for their babies… They don’t fight. They don’t protect.

They throw their babies at predators and run.

That’s right — mother quokkas have been observed tossing their joeys out of their pouches to distract predators while they escape.

It’s brutal. It’s cold. But it’s survival.

Scientists call it “infant abandonment as a defense mechanism” — and in quokkas, it’s instinctive. The moment they sense they’re beieing ruthless does. jettison the baby and run for cover.

No last look. No hesitation.

Because in the wild, being cute doesn’t keep you alive. Being ruthless does.

I found out about them about a year ago thanks to Lemmy, funnily

I was wondering why one of the Aussie instances was called quokk.au

Getting high on the beach with these guys scurrying about is always a fun summer night.

robert irwin holding quokkas is literally my favourite thing in the world tbh

I’ll have what he’s having 😜

This guy looks like Fozzie Bear waiting for the audience to react to one of his jokes.

The island is called rottnest because the Dutch explorers thought they were rats.

And yet it’s killed more humans than all the animals in Africa combined.

I love these goofy little bastards…

Wait till you see his tail

I’m all right, don’t nobody worry bout me