Hedgehog in the Cage facts for kids
The Hedgehog in the Cage (in Czech: Ježek v kleci) is a super cool mechanical puzzle that's really popular in the Czech Republic. It's also a big part of the "Dobrodružství v temných uličkách" (Adventures in the Dark Alleys) adventure stories by Jaroslav Foglar. This puzzle has a small ball with spikes of different lengths. This "hedgehog" is stuck inside a cylinder, which is the "cage." The cage has holes of different sizes. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to figure out how to get the hedgehog out of its cage!
Contents
The Hedgehog in the Cage Puzzle
What is This Puzzle?
Imagine a metal ball with lots of pointy spikes sticking out. Some spikes are long, and some are short. This spiky ball is the "hedgehog." Now, imagine a hollow metal tube, like a can, but with holes all over it. This tube is the "cage." The hedgehog is trapped inside this cage. The goal of the puzzle is to get the hedgehog out of the cage. It sounds simple, but it's trickier than you think!
A Mystery from Books
The Hedgehog in the Cage puzzle became super famous because of a series of adventure books by a Czech writer named Jaroslav Foglar. His books, especially the "Adventures in the Dark Alleys" trilogy, feature this puzzle as a central mystery. In the stories, the puzzle holds a secret plan. Many kids and teens in the Czech Republic grew up reading these books. They all wanted to solve the puzzle just like the characters in the stories! This made the puzzle a real-life legend.
How to Solve the Hedgehog?
Solving the Hedgehog in the Cage is a real brain-teaser. You can't just pull the hedgehog out. The spikes are too long, and the holes are too small. You have to twist, turn, and slide the hedgehog in a very specific way. The different lengths of the spikes are a big clue. You need to find the right path through the cage's holes. It takes patience and clever thinking. There's usually only one correct way to get the hedgehog out. It's a great challenge for anyone who loves puzzles!
Images for kids
-
The first known model of the puzzle, patented by Clarence A. Worrall.
-
The masked "Supreme Vont" alias "Široko" (Shiroco), holding the Hedgehog in the Cage. A screenshot from the TV series Záhada hlavolamu about Rychlé šípy club (1969).
