Hmm, that’s kind of weird. Can’t figure out exactly what happened. Were those kittens on that island and did they jump in the water to get away from it? Those guys should go check it out and make sure there aren’t more marooned kittens on it. Because I don’t think many cats would jump in the water and swim off away from safe dry land. Had pythons made it to those islands spooked the kitties? Obviously, they were domesticated cats, not feral. So there is another wrinkle. WTF?... Sorry, I’m just totally flummoxed by the whole episode.
There seems to be no homes around the area so my best guess is someone dumped them. They saw humans and wanted to be fed and petted.
Some a$$ dumped those kittens and they were scared...They saw the guys and knew what a human was, so they took their chances to get somewhere else...Most kittens are trusting animals...
Someone dumped the kittens in the woods. Kittens climbed tree to escape something. Tree hangs over river. Kittens get hungry and scared. Kittens see men in boat. Kittens jump in water to swim to men.
Hate to bring it up, but maybe the burlap sack opened before the kittens drowned. Some individuals (I won't call them people) used to tie unwanted kittens or puppies in a weighted sack and toss them in the creek or pond.