Quokkas (Setonix brachyurus) are a small macropod native to Australia, and are referred to as “island tame” due to their docile and friendly behavior. This is either a result of a lack of predators faced in their habitats, or high interaction with human tourists. A study published in 2016 found that quokkas who lived in more populated tourist areas fled less quickly from humans compared to individuals who lived in non-tourist areas.

Art by @miri_leshem_pelly

[Edited by Isabelle McDonald]

Reference:

Worrell, T., Admiraal, R., Bateman, P. W., & Fleming, P. A. (2016). Are tourism and conservation compatible for ‘island tame’ species? Animal Conservation, 20(2), 155–163. https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12301