Every proper castle is built on a cliff and every proper castle has a ditch or moat. Bechyně castle is no exception. However, you will not find either water or bears in it, but instead Cameroonian dwarf goats. The leader of the herd is an old billy goat, who is accompanied by four nanny goats and four grown-up kids. Occasionally the herd is joined by a wandering kid from Větrov, who enjoys being at the castle.

 

A favourite with children is a Bernese Alpine bitch called Líza and her son Polo. Their names are derivatives of Czech names used in the region where this breed of dog comes from, near Bern in Switzerland. Because of their affectionate and gentle nature and consistent liking for various tasty morsels they suffer from overweight and arthritis and have to keep to a diet. In addition to Polo and Líza, a pair of rabbit dachshunds also lives at the castle.

 

The most interesting of the feathered inhabitants of the castle is probably the talking yellow-crested cockatoo called Tony, who lives in the new aviary in the castle park together with other parrots – two Australian king-parrots, two red-winged parrots, one Northiella parrot, and five red-breasted parakeets. The pride of the aviary is a Congo African Grey Parrot called Oskar.