When facing imminent danger, what defense mechanism might a mother quokka employ regarding her young?

She may eject the joey from the pouch to lighten her load and increase escape speed

In situations where a mother quokka perceives extreme threat, perhaps from a predator such as a quoll or a large, aggressive human, she possesses a defense mechanism that prioritizes her own survival. This involves rapidly disengaging from the pouch, which ejects the dependent joey. The primary purpose of this action is highly tactical: to shed the weight and bulk that carrying the young imposes, thus maximizing her velocity and increasing her chance of successful escape. Although the intent is focused on lightening the load, the consequence for the ejected joey is overwhelmingly fatal due to shock, predation, or abandonment, illustrating a harsh reality of natural selection.