Japan is not the only country with a rabbit island
Japan is not the only country, that has an island full of rabbits. Did you know, that you can find one even in the Czech Republic?
When I was writing about the Japanese Cat islands, I wanted also to write an article about their rabbit island straight away. But you wouldn’t believe what I’ve learned while I was doing my research. You will find such an island also in the Czech Republic! It is in South Bohemia, at Lipno.
The Cat island, originally known as the Snake island, is located about 400 m away from the ship-yard in Lipno nad Vltavou. It is an “attraction” frequently visited by the tourists and many are not put off even by bad weather. With its size, the island resembles a basketball court and from April to November, you will find around thirty of bunny rabbits here.
The fluffies are used to humans, you can stroke them, cuddle with them or feed them by hand. However, you need to get to the island on your own – the best way is to loan a small boat or a paddle boat in the ship-yard.
The idea to start a Rabbit island came from the mayor of Lipno nad Vltavou, and the model was the Japanese island of Okunoshima, called Usagi Shima – that is, the Rabbit island.
During the World War II, there was an important factory for chemical weapons on Okunoshima. And that’s how the rabbits have gotten onto the island, since the chemical weapons were tested on the fluffies. After the end of the war, the plant was closed by the occupational American administration and over time, more and more bunnies started to appear on the island, even though, the present-day rabbits supposedly aren’t connected with the test ones in any way.
Today, there are thousands of free-living rabbits on the island. It is forbidden to hunt them and the tourism is flourishing here. You will find parks, a hotel and a camping site on the island. Ruins of and old fortress and the plant are still standing here, but entrance is forbidden as it is dangerous. If you get tired of swimming in the ocean, or from cuddling the bunnies, you can visit The Poison Gas Museum – local museum dedicated to the poisonous gas. You will learn about the construction of the factory, working conditions and the effect of the gas on humans.
Even though feral rabbits live here, they are more than used to humans. Not only do they let you feed them, they will even go after you. Take a look at the video.:)
When one says a mini breed, most of you will immediately think of a Chihuahua. And it’s not surprising, its the smallest dog breed in the world. They are popular abroad as well as in the Czech Republic and they are often picked by people whose desire...
The Ragdoll, a cat which reminds you of a dog with its behaviour, was in the top three favourite breeds among keepers in 2017. At the worldwide scale, it is on the second place, right after the Maine Coon. The Ragdoll is a very cuddly pet which is into...
Cats have always been regarded as mystical animals with many mysteries. One of them might be the question why these creatures like sitting in a circle so much.
You might be asking why should a cat learn to walk on a leash in the first place? It doesn’t mean you should go hiking with your cat. However, a short walk might be a great adventure for your cat. And you can’t do that without a leash, especially in a...
Keeping an eye on the weight no longer concerns only us, the two-legged creatures. Vets deal with overweight and obese pets more and more often. Most often, it applies to dogs and cats, but even rodents can easily suffer from obesity. How to prevent...
Toxins are accumulated in body during winter and spring is therefore the best season for detoxification. Everything awakens and people purify their bodies so why shouldn’t we involve our closest companions to it?
The fact that it’s no problem to go for a journey across the whole continent (or even the whole world) together with your pet is well-known to the owners of three cat travellers – Bengal cat Suki, courageous cat Wilow and fearless tom cat Simon. They...
One of my New Year’s resolutions this year was to be more active. A dog is a great companion for an active life. What is a healthy level of exercising with a dog?
These portions seem so small, shouldn’t I give my dog more? And should the dry food be dipped or not? And how many times a day should I feed my dog? And should I supplement the food by something? When should we switch to adult dog food? This is only a...
Do you know how to properly behave with your furry friends in national parks and protected nature areas? Are you sick of all the trash in city parks? And are you considering what you should do to be a more
eco-friendly dog owner? You can also...
Siberian Husky is an amazing dog breed. It is a very active dog. Agile, strong and distinctive. That’s why many mushers use them to pull their sledges. It is said that all dogs who like pulling are suitable for a dog sled, but a Siberian Husky really...
Domestic cats don’t go outside as often as dogs and you have to prepare them for travelling. However, they won’t avoid visiting a vet or travelling to a cottage from time to time.