By Leticia Povh. Most Western Australians know quokkas from their travels to Rottnest Island.  Fewer of us are lucky enough to have been introduced to quokkas on the mainland, where quokkas are restricted to a small number of scattered populations. These populations face threats, including reduction of habitat, decreasing rainfall, competition with feral species, and bushfires. These threats, along with low population numbers and fragmented populations, can be devastating.

In collaboration with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), researchers from Murdoch University’s Harry Butler Institute are conducting research to better understand quokkas’ use of habitat during prescribed burns (planned fire) and how a range of threats influence quokka recovery after prescribed burns are undertaken.