- WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, Tricky Tongues and Treetops
Meet RJ the Quokka
With his curious nature and cute smiling face, it's easy to see why RJ is already winning over guests at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo.
As our resident quokka, RJ gives visitors the rare chance to come face-to-face with one of Australia's most beloved marsupials. Known around the world for their playful appearance and inquisitive personalities, quokkas have become wildlife superstars, despite being found naturally in only a small part of Western Australia.
RJ also plays an important role as an ambassador for his species, helping guests learn more about quokkas and the conservation efforts helping to protect them. Listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, quokkas remind us just how important it is to safeguard Australia's unique wildlife for future generations.
RJ Quick Facts
Name: RJ
Born: Approx. April 2022
Where to find him: Tricky Tongues and Treetops zone at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo
Personality: Curious, observant and full of character
General Admission
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Peak pricing applies to school holidays and weekends.
Ticket Type Weekdays Weekends, School Holidays & Public Holidays On the day Advanced Adult $49.00 $39.00 $49.00 Child $36.00 $26.00 $36.00 Concession $39.00 $29.00 $39.00 Child (0-1 yrs) FREE Please note: Our ticket pricing is subject to available capacity and prices may fluctuate during periods of high demand.
Peak pricing includes school holidays in other Australian states.
- Price includes Digi Photo Pass with 8 digital photos included (excludes Koala Photo experience)!
- Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult (18+)
- Get your ticket on your phone
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Ticket Type Weekdays Weekends, School Holidays & Public Holidays On the day Advanced Adult $49.00 $39.00 $49.00 Child $36.00 $26.00 $36.00 Concession $39.00 $29.00 $39.00 Child (0-1 yrs) FREE *All concession holders must have a valid concession/student/health care card to gain access to the attraction with a Student/Senior ticket.
Please note: Our ticket pricing is subject to available capacity and prices may fluctuate during periods of high demand.
2 Attraction Pass
- Visit SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium within 60 days after visiting WILD LIFE
- Price includes Digi Photo Pass with 8 digital photos included!
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Savings percentages are based on the maximum cost of purchasing individual entry tickets for each attraction when compared to purchasing a combo pass for the same date type (e.g. peak/off-peak, advance/on-the-day purchase).
Merlin Annual Pass
- 12 months of family fun at 8 top attractions in Australia and New Zealand
- Receive a great range of exclusive benefits and deals
- No blackout periods
- Pre-Booking is essential across all attractions
Smiley New Male Quokka Appointed Head of Good Vibes
There’s a new Head of Good Vibes at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo! Meet RJ and discover more about the male quokka bringing plenty of personality to his new role.
Read RJ’s story
Fast Facts About Quokkas
Quokkas are marsupials
Like kangaroos, koalas and wallabies, quokkas are marsupials. After birth, joeys continue developing in their mother's pouch before emerging to explore the world on their own.
Quokkas are native to Australia
Quokkas are native to a small part of south-west Western Australia, including Rottnest Island. Their limited natural range makes them one of Australia's most unique and special native animals.
QUOKKAS ARE THE "WORLD'S HAPPIEST ANIMAL"
Quokkas are famous for their smile-shaped faces, which give them their cheerful appearance. While they're not actually smiling, their distinctive look has helped make them wildlife stars around the…
QUOKKAS ARE SURPRISINGLY GOOD CLIMBERS
Despite their small size, quokkas can climb low shrubs and small trees when searching for food. Their strong legs help them move easily through dense vegetation.
About Quokkas
Quokkas are one of Australia's most iconic marsupials, famous for their smiling faces and curious personalities. Found naturally in a small part of south-west Western Australia, these pint-sized relatives of kangaroos and wallabies have captured the hearts of wildlife lovers around the world.
Quokkas are well adapted to life in the wild. They spend much of their time foraging for grasses, leaves and other vegetation, and are most active during the cooler hours of the day. They're also surprisingly agile and can climb low shrubs and trees in search of food.
Although quokkas have become internet celebrities, their future in the wild is not guaranteed. Classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, they face threats including habitat loss, bushfires and introduced predators. By learning more about species like the quokka, we can all play a part in helping protect Australia's unique wildlife.
IUCN Conservation Status
Vulnerable (VU)
Scientific Name
Setonix brachyurus
Alternative Name
Quokka
Classification
Class: Mammalia
Order: Diprotodontia
Family: Macropodidae (kangaroos and wallabies)
Genus: Setonix
Species: S. brachyurus
Identification and Size
Quokkas are small marsupials with coarse grey-brown fur, rounded ears and a short tail. Their distinctive facial features and naturally upturned mouths contribute to their famous smile-like appearance. Adults typically measure between 40-54cm in length and weigh between 2.5-5kg, making them one of the smallest members of the kangaroo and wallaby family.
Habitat
Quokkas are most commonly found in dense vegetation near swamps, streams and wetlands, where they can find food, shelter and protection from predators. They also occur in shrublands, heathlands and forested environments with thick vegetation.
Distribution
Quokkas are native to Western Australia and are only found naturally in the south-west of the state. The largest populations occur on Rottnest Island and Bald Island, with smaller populations surviving in isolated mainland locations. Once more widespread, their distribution has become increasingly restricted over time.
Feeding and Diet
Quokkas are herbivores that feed on a variety of grasses and plants. They are also known to consume succulent plants when water is scarce and can obtain much of their moisture directly from the vegetation they eat. Although they primarily forage on the ground, quokkas are capable climbers and may climb low shrubs and trees to access food.
Breeding
Like all marsupials, female quokkas give birth to young known as joeys. After a short gestation period of around 27 days, the joey completes its development in the mother's pouch, where it remains for approximately six months before gradually becoming independent.
Threats
Quokkas face a range of threats in the wild, including habitat loss, fragmentation, climate change, bushfires and predation by introduced species such as foxes and feral cats. Their restricted distribution means that environmental changes have a significant impact on local populations.
Conservation
The quokka is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red Lit of Threatened Species and is also listed as Vulnerable under Australian conservation legislation. Conservation efforts focus on protecting and restoring habitat, controlling introduced predators, monitoring wild populations and supporting recovery programs to help secure the species' future.
Explore Tricky Tongues and Treetops
RJ can be found in Tricky Tongues and Treetops where you can discover a lush habitat where you can spot an echidna among the leafy foliage, look to the treetops for Kofi the Goodfellow's tree kangaroo, and encounter our curious quokka as you explore this unique wildlife zone.
Learn More
Quokka FAQs
Yes, you can meet RJ, our quokka, at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo in Darling Harbour.
RJ lives at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo and can be found in Tricky Tongues and Treetops with his friend Kofi the Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo.
A quokka (Setonix brachyurus) is a small marsupial native to Western Australia. Closely related to kangaroos and wallabies, quokkas are known for their curious personalities and distinctive smiling faces.
Quokkas are often called the world's happiest animal because the shape of their face makes them appear to be smiling. While their famous grin isn't actually an expression of happiness, it has helped make them one of Australia's most recognisable animals.
Quokkas are herbivores and feed on a variety of grasses, plants, and native vegetation. They are well adapted to Australia's environment and can obtain much of the water they need from the plants they eat.
Quokkas are found naturally in south-west Western Australia. The largest populations live on Rottnest Island and Bald Island, with smaller populations occurring in mainland locations.
Quokkas are currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, meaning they face ongoing threats in the wild and require continued conservation efforts to help protect their future.
Like other marsupials, a baby quokka is called a joey.
Yes. Although they spend most of their time on the ground, quokkas can climb low shrubs and trees when searching for food.
Adult quokkas typically measure between 40 and 55 centimetres in length and weigh between 2.5 and 5 kilograms.
RJ is WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo's resident quokka. With his curious personality and famous smile-shaped face, he helps guests connect with one of Australia's most iconic marsupials while learning more about quokka conservation.
- Australian Museum. Quokka (Setonix brachyurus). https://australian.museum/learn/animals/mammals/quokka/
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Setonix brachyurus (Quokka). - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/20165/258663635
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (Western Australia). Quokka Recovery Plan. - https://library.dbca.wa.gov.au/FullTextFiles/071538.pdf
Australian Geographic. Fact File: Quokka (Setonix brachyurus). https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/fact-file/fact-file-quokka-setonix-brachyurus/ - WWF Australia. 8 Fascinating Quokka Facts That Will Make You Smile. https://wwf.org.au/blogs/8-interesting-facts-about-quokkas
