The happiest animal on the planet

I smell the salty ocean. 

As the Quokka curiously hops,

Up to a tourist,

And smiles happily like me. 

Seemingly given eternal happiness. 

But when Quokkas venture out they must be wary of predators. 

The Quokkas have lost most of their habitat, 

Creating a different type on Rottnest Island. 

They are the under-appreciated native creatures of Australia. 

Quokkas may not exist by my children’s generation,

But, there may be a miracle, to quell this prediction. 

Their home of scrublands, wetlands and forests have seen much decline,

The foxes, cats and dogs, a major complication. 

Quokkas’ nightly adventures see them most active, 

Not in search of meat, but human food resulting in dehydration.