Can you get all the lizards across the river, and what's the smallest number of leaps?

Question

Across a stream runs a row of eight stepping stones. On one side of the stream, on the first five stones, sit five girl lizards-Liza, Lizzie, Lottie, Lola, and Liz-and they want to get across to the other side. There's one empty stone in the middle. On the other side are three boy lizards, waiting to come across the other way-Lonnie, Leo, and Len. Only one lizard moves at a time. Any lizard may hop to the next stone if it is empty, or may hop over one lizard of the opposite sex onto an empty stone.
Can you get all the lizards across the river, and what's the smallest number of leaps?

Comments

I don't think the answer is correct.

Answer 1

Use these rules as a guide, 1. Do not move a boy next to another boy--or a girl next to another girl--until you reach the other side, 2. Step if you can, hop if you can not step, 3. Once you have moved a girl, keep moving girls till you have to stop, then move boys till you have to stop. The quickest has 23 leaps.