'World's Happiest Animal' Bouncing Back, Thanks to Golf
Considered vulnerable to extinction, the quokka is now booming on Rottnest Island not in spite of urban development, but because of it.
The "happiest animal in the world" may be happiest on the golf course.
The quokka, a teddy bear-sized marsupial found only in southwestern Australia, is struggling on the mainland, where it has to contend with invasive predators and habitat loss. But on Rottnest Island, just off the coast of Perth, the quokka population has exploded.
A big helping hand arrived in 2012—and it was holding a smartphone. A man visiting the island took a selfie with a quokka, whose unusual mouth made it appear to be smiling. The photo quickly went viral.
Soon more people arrived in pursuit of a quokka selfie, and visitation to the island has reached record numbers. New or expanded facilities to accommodate the influx of tourists
