She explained that when kangaroos are threatened by a predator they actually throw their babies out of their pouches and if necessary throw it at the predator in order for the adult to survive. That is actually not the only reason a mother kangaroo will sacrifice its baby, though.

3 babies

A kangaroo pouch may look like a simple pocket, but it’s actually a complex nursery that contains everything a growing joey needs. The pouch is hairless on the inside, and is lined with sweat glands that release antimicrobial liquid to keep the joey safe from germs.

But take out that one offending preposition and it’s true — quokkas sacrifice their babies in order to escape predators. “The pouch is really muscular so the mum will relax it and the bub will fall out,” conservation biologist Matthew Hayward from the University of Newcastle says.

Stephen Catwell, acting supervisor of zoology and quokka species coordinator at Perth Zoo in Australia, told Africa Check that while macropods may have their joeys, or young, fall out of the pouch when they are fleeing from a predator, “Quokkas don’t toss their babies at predators so they can escape”.

Firstly, it should be noted that no, quokkas don’t throw their babies at predators. That is a joke, but it is somewhat based on reality. Quokkas keep their young in their pouches, and while fleeing from predators, babies are known to fall out and are then left there by their parents.

Tourists go to Rottnest Island in Australia for a selfie with quokkas. 20 May, 2016. However, the tourist is nevertheless advised to maintain some distance because the quokka is classified a vulnerable animal, and feeding and touching the marsupial is illegal.

Quokkas aren’t considered a dangerous species to live with, so you’re safe to move to Rottnest Island if you want!