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.:)
Cats are no longer the outside countryside homeless animals that come closer to a house just for a while when they are in the mood for it. Rather the opposite, they have started living in city flats and have adjusted to our lifestyle. However, it’s...
Rabbits are popular pets especially for city flats. It’s because they don’t require a lot of space and don’t need to go outside very often (no garden needed). However, it doesn’t mean taking care of them is easy and no time or efforts are needed. We...
It sounds lovely: a dog gets a command, it does it and gets a treat or a reward for that. It won’t end with one moment in the perfect case and it will become the basic idea of a whole training for a dog that will become an obedient pet using positive...
Every dog owner knows that feeling when (s)he has to leave house to work or (s)he can’t take his/her pet with him/her for any reason and (s)he doesn’t know what’s going to happen. Can a dog handle the situation or will it bark and go on the rampage?...
Fear is natural for people and everyone has their own fears. While someone is scared of spiders, heights or confined spaces, others are scared of dogs. This fear is common in children who haven’t explored the world so well yet and who don’t know the...
Guinea pigs are popular pets especially in families with kids. They are small animals that can bring a lot of joy. If you consider buying a guinea pig, there are some aspects you shouldn’t neglect before making the decision. We talked about what to...
Have you heard about sport called Disc Dog? It basically consists of throwing a disc to your dog that fetches it. Disc Dog can be done as a recreational or a professional sport. For professional competitors, there are several disciplines for which...
Siberian Cat is quite a new breed that was only recognized by the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe) in 1992. It emerged from crossbreeding domestic cats and breeds brought from the Near East and it found its home in Russia and Ukraine where it...
Most of us have this long thought-to-be-true idea that one dog year equals to seven human years. So, if you have a two-year-old puppy at home, it is already 14 years old when compared to humans. Therefore, if you have a ten-year-old dog at home, it is...
Breast milk is, in the beginning of life, the best thing a pup can get from its mother. It is full of the nutrients it needs to grow and develop properly. However, as the offsprings grow, milk needs to be supplemented with other food, so they are...
Cat lovers and breeders know very well that one cat is often not enough, and that there is sometimes a need to get another cat companion. However, this decision will affect the whole household and, above all, it is necessary to prepare the cat you...
Many of us are under the influence of the need to fulfill a dream of getting an unconventional pet, which the minipig certainly is. This trend has been present in the Czech Republic for about ten years. But don’t be fooled by those cute snouts, taking...
