The River Crossing Riddle

Hi everyone,

Have you ever heard of “River Crossing” riddles? It’s where there’s a river (or any other obstacle) and a bunch of people. They have to cross the obstacle using something like a raft depending on the riddle. However, the item carrying the people across can only hold two people and there’s rules for what can stay on each side with what.

I have a pretty hard riddle for you to try out. Hope you enjoy!

There’s a forest fire catching up to some groups of animals. Among the animals are a pack of wolves with their two cubs, a group of rabbits with their two kittens (basically baby rabbits), a goat, and a hunter. There’s a big river between the lit-up forest and another stretch of land. The only way to the other side is a rickety old bridge. However, only two animals/people can cross at a time or else the bridge will break.

(Simple version below) The animals and the hunter have called a truce, however, there are a few obstacles in their path. If the wolves are left alone with the rabbits, then they will eat them. If the rabbits are left alone with the wolves, then their wild instincts will kick in and they will run into the forest fire. The rabbits and wolves can’t be left alone with the hunter or the hunter will kill them. The goat must be with the hunter or the hunter must be alone on either side. Wolves will travel with their own kind or the goat, the same with the rabbits. Only the mother wolf, the mother rabbit, and the goat can help the baby animals cross the bridge.

Rules:

  1. The bridge can only support two people (animals can go alone, however).
  2. Only the mother wolf, the mother rabbit, and the goat can go across the bridge without help.
  3. The mother wolf cannot be on the same side as any of the rabbit kittens, and the mother rabbit cannot be alone with any of the wolf cubs (The two mothers can be alone together, however).
  4. The hunter cannot be alone with any of the animals without the goat.
  5. The animals and the hunter must all be on the other side to win in the least moves.

There are eight characters: The mother wolf, her two cubs, the mother rabbit, her two kittens, the hunter, and the goat.

If you’re having trouble, drawing and cutting out pieces of paper with the names can help.

HINTS:

  1. You may have to move characters around a lot, so don’t be reluctant to move a character on the safe side to the other side.
  2. The mother wolf moves the most and the mother rabbit moves the least.
  3. In the beginning you will need two animals that can cross the bridge themselves on the safe side so they can get back to the other side. The selection of these animals is very important.

SOLUTION:

  1. Take the hunter and goat to the other side.
  2. Take the goat back.
  3. Take the goat and one of the wolf cubs to the other side.
  4. Take the hunter and the goat back.
  5. Take the mother wolf and the other wolf cub to the other side.
  6. Take the mother wolf back.
  7. Take the mother wolf and the mother rabbit to the other side.
  8. Take the mother wolf back.
  9. Take the hunter and the goat to the other side.
  10. Take the mother wolf back.
  11. Take the mother wolf and the mother rabbit to the other side.
  12. Take the mother rabbit to the other side.
  13. Take the mother rabbit and one of the kittens to the other side.
  14. Take the hunter and the goat back.
  15. Take the goat and the rabbit kitten to the other side.
  16. Take the goat back.
  17. Take the goat and the hunter to the other side.
  18. Congrats!

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed and goodbye!

– A Koi named Skoi ♪┏(・o・)┛♪

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