9 Islands Ruled by Creatures

From swimming with pigs, to a secret island full of snakes that you are not allowed to visit, these are 9 islands RULED by creatures. Cat Island -- It seems felines have taken over the island of Tashirojima (tash-sheero-jeemah) in Japan. Locals have turned the land over to thousands of cats who now apparently rule the roost … or at least the litter box. Cats are thought to outnumber humans by 6 to 1, with the human population now numbering around 100. The cats have managed to thrive due in large part to a belief in Japanese culture that cats are a good luck charm, bringing good fortune to all who encounter them. Because of that, visiting tourists always make sure the animals are well-fed and fussed over. The island even has houses shaped like cats where the animals can kick back in style. Horse Island -- Assateague (azza-teeg) Island Is an uninhabited, 37-mile long expanse that’s divided between Virginia and Maryland. And its primary inhabitants? Wild horses that gallop about the beach. You can see a few of the animals about to go for swim in John Riviello’s photo. The current equine population is thought to have descended from horses aboard a Spanish galleon that survived a shipwreck long ago, and stayed put on this isle ever since. They’re known to be friendly, and spend their time doing what many of us might do on vacation -- wandering through meadows or horsing around in the water. Seal Island -- The Cape fur seals of South Africa have their own island located only a few miles from Cape Town. Seal Island is actually a small granite landform located inside False Bay that is home to the seals and serves as their main breeding site. Seals have weathered the harsh elements better than humans, which drove away seal hunters in the early 20 th century, as well as attempts to build a radar installation during World War II. The seals are usually left in peace. However, the surrounding waters are filled with great white sharks, which are known to circle the island in what’s affectionately called the Ring of Death. Any seal venturing too far into the waters will likely find itself a snack for those sharks. Rabbit Island -- This is a forested idyllic enclave where dogs and cats are banned … And it’s hard to believe now, but Okunoshima (oh-koon-us-sheem-uh) Island in Japan was once the location of a poison gas factory producing mustard gas and tear gas during World War II. It’s said that the rabbits were intentionally released when the island was reconfigured as a park after the war. While many rabbits were used in chemical testing, those animals were killed when the factory was razed. Rabbits found on the island today have no relation to those animals involved with chemical weapon tests. You can see a couple of today’s rabbits outside the factory ruins in this picture by Paul and Joy. The animals are said to be very friendly, and especially popular with tourists who bring along carrots! Monkey Island -- On the island of Cayo (k-o) Santiago in Puerto Rico, over 1000 Rhesus Macaque (mah-kack) monkeys run free. They are descendents of 409 monkeys brought from India and deposited there in 1938 for scientific testing. Cayo Santiago today serves as the University of Puerto Rico’s Caribbean Primate Research Center. If you want to see the monkeys, you have to be researcher to actually go ashore on the island. But you can charter a boat to the island and watch the monkeys from a distance. One reason for the restrictions is due to the fact that these monkeys naturally carry herpes B ; that version of the virus can prove deadly to humans. Pig Island -- The Bahamas is home to awesome weather, beautiful beaches, and a place called Big Major Cay -- In an uninhabited island in the Exuma (ex-zoom-ah) region, you’ll find those beautiful beaches often occupied by pigs, who just might join you for a sunbathing session. And how did those pigs get there? It’s thought they either survived a shipwreck or were left behind by sailors who had brought them along for food. The animals managed to survive by swimming to passing ships where tourists will cast them food. As you can see in this photo by Norm Lanier, they’re not shy about wading into the water. The pigs also aren't shy about hopping into boats and searching for food. Snake Island -- Here’s an island where you’d definitely better watch your step. Ilha de Queimada Grande (ILL-ha Duh Qwhy-da-mah) is located off the coast of Brazil, and is best known as Snake Island due to the huge population of pit vipers found there. Inhabiting nearly all 110 acres are Golden Lancehead Vipers, known as one of the world’s deadliest venomous snakes. Subscribe to Epic Wildlife http://goo.gl/6rzs5u Let's Connect -- http://www.epicadamwildlife.com/ -- http://www.facebook.com/epicadamwildlife -- http://www.twitter.com/epicwildlife -- http://gplus.to/epicwildlife