A little bit of history
The quokka was first described by Dutch mariner Samuel Volckertzoon when he wrote of sighting "a wild cat"on Rottnest Island in 1658.In 1696, Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh mistook them for giant rats, naming the island 't Eylandt 't Rottenest, which means "rat nest" in Dutch.
By 1992, following extensive population declines in the 20th century, the quokka's distribution on the mainland had been reduced by more than 50% to an area of about 17,800 km2
Despite being numerous on the small, offshore islands, the quokka is classified as vulnerable. On the mainland, where it is threatened by introduced predatory species such as red foxes, cats, and dogs, it requires dense ground cover for refuge. Clearfell logging, agricultural development,and housing expansion have reduced their habitat, contributing to the decline of the species, as has the clearing and burning of the remaining swampland. Moreover, quokkas usually have a litter size of one and successfully rear one young each year. Although they are constantly mating, usually one day after the young are born, the small litter size, along with the restricted space and threatening predators, contributes to the scarcity of the species on the mainland
DID YOU KNOW?
Quokkas have the ability to store fat in their tails as a means of coping with seasonal food availability.
But quietly there’s a mission to change all of that, and it’s all thanks to technology and science.
The cute quokka is only the beginnings of DNA research. DNA Zoo is on a mission to use digital technologies and scientific rigor to facilitate conservation efforts to help slow extinction rates worldwide – or even better, stop extinction completely.
Data collected through the DNA Zoo program is open source. When it is shared with other open-source data collections, machine learning can search for patterns that, in turn, can reveal new insights into the health and condition of species populations.
That approach allows scientists to study the DNA of a threatened species or population alongside those which appear to thrive in the same or similar habitats. Ultimately, that will help researchers learn more about how to slow or reverse population decline.
“We welcome the support from Microsoft, DNA Zoo, and UWA that will add to our knowledge of the quokka in ensuring its ongoing survival,” adds Rottnest Island Authority executive director Michelle Reynolds
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