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There are tons of beautiful islands all over the world, each known for various features and ways of life. Some have amazing beaches, while others are known for the hospitality of their people. But there are also some that are infamous for their lack of humans in favour of an animal population.
Some of these look like a great place to visit, with fuzzy and cuddly animals, while others are a little less huggable, and slightly more scary.
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Cats – Aoshima Island, Japan
On this island, the kitties outnumber the humans 6-1. At last count, there were 130+ cats, and 13 elderly humans who are permanent residents.
On this island, the kitties outnumber the humans 6-1. At last count, there were 130+ cats, and 13 elderly humans who are permanent residents.
And yes, you can take a boat over to feed Mr. Whiskers and his pals.
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Bunnies – Ōkunoshima Island, Japan
This place is the home to hundreds of feral rabbits. According to rumours, they were originally the subjects of secret poison gas experiments from WW2, escaped and well, procreated like bunnies.
This place is the home to hundreds of feral rabbits. According to rumours, they were originally the subjects of secret poison gas experiments from WW2, escaped and well, procreated like bunnies.
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Swimming Pigs – Big Major Cay, Bahamas
This place is also known as Pig Beach, and is a huge tourist draw. The island itself is uninhabited, but these piggies will swim up to your boat for food.
This place is also known as Pig Beach, and is a huge tourist draw. The island itself is uninhabited, but these piggies will swim up to your boat for food.
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Red Crabs – Christmas Island, Australia
Ok, so maybe not a cute and cuddly place to visit. This island is the home of the Red Crab and there are roughly 40-50 million of them on and around the island.
Ok, so maybe not a cute and cuddly place to visit. This island is the home of the Red Crab and there are roughly 40-50 million of them on and around the island.
Once a year, all of them migrate from the islands interior rainforests, to the beach to lay eggs and breed. It’s like a sea of red.
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Wallabies – Lambay Island, Ireland
When you think of these marsupials, you probably figure they’re exclusive to Australia and its surroundings. But you’d be wrong. Back in the ’50’s and 60’s, a wealthy Irish family decided to raise them on this rocky island, then abandoned them.
When you think of these marsupials, you probably figure they’re exclusive to Australia and its surroundings. But you’d be wrong. Back in the ’50’s and 60’s, a wealthy Irish family decided to raise them on this rocky island, then abandoned them.
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Wild Chickens – Kauai, USA
On Hawaii’s Kauai island, there are chickens that just run amok. To date, there are thousands of these feral birds, that were once domesticated, but have since reverted to a wild state and bred with other Polynesian jungle fowl.
On Hawaii’s Kauai island, there are chickens that just run amok. To date, there are thousands of these feral birds, that were once domesticated, but have since reverted to a wild state and bred with other Polynesian jungle fowl.
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Rats – Montecristo Isand, Italy
This uninhabited place off the coast of Tuscany is overrun with rats. It’s believed that the black rats stowed away on tourist boats, and then multiplied like mad. At last count, there was one rat per square yard. That’s gross and I don’t plan on going.
This uninhabited place off the coast of Tuscany is overrun with rats. It’s believed that the black rats stowed away on tourist boats, and then multiplied like mad. At last count, there was one rat per square yard. That’s gross and I don’t plan on going.
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Brown Tree Snakes – Guam
Even less cuddly than the rats, is this infestation of venomous brown tree snakes. These guys were accidentally introduced to the island in 1944 from Papua New Guinea, and have no enemies.
Even less cuddly than the rats, is this infestation of venomous brown tree snakes. These guys were accidentally introduced to the island in 1944 from Papua New Guinea, and have no enemies.
There’s over 2 million of them, taking down the bird and rodent population, biting people and inhibiting the growth of new trees. Let’s not visit this one either.
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Cape Fur Seals – False Bay, South Africa
This island is the home of over 75,000 seals and is huge tourist draw. If you go between the months of May and September, you’re guaranteed to get a good view of two things; the seals and the Great White Sharks that feast on the careless ones.
This island is the home of over 75,000 seals and is huge tourist draw. If you go between the months of May and September, you’re guaranteed to get a good view of two things; the seals and the Great White Sharks that feast on the careless ones.
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Quokkas – Rottnest Island, Australia
This guys have got to be the cutest animals in existence, and there’s over 12,000 of them roaming the island. In fact, this is the only place to find them.
This guys have got to be the cutest animals in existence, and there’s over 12,000 of them roaming the island. In fact, this is the only place to find them.
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Feral Cats – Tonawanda Island
If you’re into a place overrun by cats, you don’t have to even leave the country. This 85-acre island in New York is a haven for abandoned cats. At the moment, there are more of them, than there are people and they’re running amok.
If you’re into a place overrun by cats, you don’t have to even leave the country. This 85-acre island in New York is a haven for abandoned cats. At the moment, there are more of them, than there are people and they’re running amok.
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Deer – Miyajima Island, Japan
This island is home to over 1,000 tame sika deer, and you can just walk up to them and pet them.
This island is home to over 1,000 tame sika deer, and you can just walk up to them and pet them.
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Monkeys – Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico
This island was originally a location for scientists to conduct research on primates, back in the 1930s. Since then, the population has exploded.
This island was originally a location for scientists to conduct research on primates, back in the 1930s. Since then, the population has exploded.
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Venomous Snakes – Ilha da Queimada Grande, Brazil
Better known as snake island, it’s the home of the largest population of Golden Lancehead Vipers. In fact, there are between 1-5 of these snakes per square meter. It’s too dangerous a place to live, that humans are forbidden to set foot on the island.
Better known as snake island, it’s the home of the largest population of Golden Lancehead Vipers. In fact, there are between 1-5 of these snakes per square meter. It’s too dangerous a place to live, that humans are forbidden to set foot on the island.
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Wild Horses – Assateague Island, Maryland
According to the NPS, there are thousands of feral horses that roam free on the island. This is one of the only places left in the world, where tourists can see wild stallions, but they don’t recommend you get too close, unless you want to get kicked to death.
According to the NPS, there are thousands of feral horses that roam free on the island. This is one of the only places left in the world, where tourists can see wild stallions, but they don’t recommend you get too close, unless you want to get kicked to death.
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Green Iguanas – Grand Cayman Island
You can find these guys everywhere on the island, and they’re a huge nuisance. At the moment, there are over 6,000 per square kilometre and they easily outnumber the humans. They also have no natural predators on the island (other than cars), so the population is becoming unmanageable.
You can find these guys everywhere on the island, and they’re a huge nuisance. At the moment, there are over 6,000 per square kilometre and they easily outnumber the humans. They also have no natural predators on the island (other than cars), so the population is becoming unmanageable.
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Puffins – Runde Island, Norway
This tiny island is chock-full of these striking birds with a population of over 200,000. There aren’t too many villages nearby, so they pretty much run the island.
This tiny island is chock-full of these striking birds with a population of over 200,000. There aren’t too many villages nearby, so they pretty much run the island.
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Moose – Ylvingen, Norway
On this island, the moose outnumber the humans 2-1, which means that they’re pretty chill around us. But they’re also huge and angry beasts, so authorities warn that you be wary, no matter how friendly they seem.
On this island, the moose outnumber the humans 2-1, which means that they’re pretty chill around us. But they’re also huge and angry beasts, so authorities warn that you be wary, no matter how friendly they seem.
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