Sorry, therapy dogs, but it’s time for you to step aside! This fall, CCHS will welcome the adorable quokka, dubbed the “happiest animal on Earth,” to serve as therapy animals!
These nocturnal marsupials, which live only on Rottnest Island and Bald Island off the coast of western Australia, are known for their infectiously happy, permanently-smiling faces (hence the superlative). Scientists believe their permanent smiles are due to a genetic mutation, similar to the reason that pugs have such cute faces. But it’s also probably true that these quokkas are just always truly happy. What an optimistic life outlook!
Quokkas are often mistaken for a host of other Australian animals, such as kangaroos and wallabies, but their exceptionally joyful faces warrant their own fame. Interestingly, their home of Rottnest Island got its name when the explorer Willem de Vlamingh mistook them for giant rats when he discovered their habitat in 1696. He named the region the Dutch word “Rattennest,” or “Rat’s Nest.”
With their charming smiles, quokkas have become famous around the internet for their #quokkaselfies. But what else are you supposed to do with such a heart-melting smile except take lots of selfies to show off to the world?
Another fun fact about quokkas is that not only are they herbivores, but they can also go for long periods without food or water by storing fat in their tails, kind of like the animal kingdom’s version of cacti. So quokkas aren’t just adorable, but also resilient and adaptable. Unfortunately, however, habitat loss due to human developments has led to quokkas being classified as a vulnerable species. So, we are ever more grateful to have the opportunity of keeping these quokkas as therapy pets at CCHS. We hope that their positive, enthusiastic, and friendly nature will brighten students’ lives and give them something to grin about. At this age, we’re making a lot of difficult decisions daily, and it may feel overwhelming, exhausting, and frustrating. But we always have the choice to persevere and, like quokkas, choose to focus on the positive side of our challenges!
Smiles and laughter are thought of as natural healing therapy, with many benefits to mental and physical health, and there’s no denying that the best way to delight people is with some cute animals. So let’s get ready to greet the new CCHS quokkas with big hugs, cheerful smiles, and plenty of quokka selfies!
Source: https://www.trafalgar.com/real-word/facts-about-the-quokka/
