The European island half an hour from Italy where there are more rabbits than people
The absence of predators and the abundance of food offered by the island encourage these animals to trust people and allow themselves to be cared for.
Croatia is home to one of the country’s most idyllic retreats for those seeking peace and quiet. Ceja, a small island off the Istrian peninsula, offers the perfect setting for a tranquil escape, with sea and sand but, above all, without the crowds.
The island’s most unusual feature is that it is home to far more rabbits than people. Measuring just 600 metres long and 430 metres wide, Ceja has virtually no permanent human presence. Paradoxically, this absence of people has helped turn it into an increasingly popular tourist destination.
The rabbit colonies that inhabit the island have become one of its main attractions. Thanks to the abundance of food and the lack of large predators, the animals thrive in the area. Videos circulating on social media show how accustomed they have become to humans, approaching visitors with an ease rarely seen in wild rabbits.
This friendly behaviour is particularly striking, as rabbits are typically cautious animals driven by strong survival instincts. Their relaxed and trusting demeanour draws the curiosity of many visitors, and the island’s growing popularity has led to organised boat trips that allow tourists to observe this unusual and endearing interaction up close.
Ceja is not the only Croatian island with a notable rabbit population. On Lokrum, just off the coast of Dubrovnik, wild European rabbits were illegally introduced in 2014. Their presence quickly disrupted the local ecosystem, threatening dozens of plant species, including some rare ones, within the island’s Botanical Garden.
As a result, rabbits on Lokrum are now considered an invasive pest that must be removed to protect the island’s natural balance. On Ceja, by contrast, the rabbits’ origins remain unknown, but their impact has been very different.
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Rather than causing ecological concern, they have become a defining feature of the island, charming visitors with their calm nature and close interaction with people.
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