Behind the Smile

The Rottnest Quokka has made the front cover of Australian Geographic’s November/December publication, which also includes a feature article on the significance of the Island’s population.

Australian Geographic run a bi-monthly fundraising effort with each publication and they have chosen to partner with the Rottnest Foundation to support quokka monitoring and conservation on Rottnest Island to support this important species. Funds raised will go towards purchasing remote cameras which will enable the continuous 24/7 monitoring of large remote areas of the Island, allowing the Rottnest Island Authority Environmental Rangers to obtain data on quokka populations out on the Island reserve and help detect changes which may signal the need for management actions.

“Australian Geographic chose to run a story about quokkas to showcase the species which has become famous on social media. The seeming abundance of quokkas on Rottnest Island doesn’t tell the whole story of this once common species in the South West of WA. There are very few individuals left on the mainland. The island population is vital for the species’ future and when we heard that the island’s monitoring program was hoping to introduce camera traps as a less invasive style of surveillance, we knew Australian Geographic’s readers would be keen to help. We run a fundraiser with every issue of the magazine with direct donations via the Australian Geographic website and via our retail partners, QBD Books who collect on our behalf in their stores.”, Chrissie Goldrick Editor-in-Chief.

Purchase a copy from any participating newsagent or you can make a donation through the Australian Geographic website or via their retail partners, QBD Books, who also collect on behalf of Australian Geographic in their store.