What this petition calls for:

 

To Takehara City: Please explicitly designate the treatment costs for sick or injured rabbits and the costs for spaying and neutering as specific uses for the proposed "Okunoshima Visitor Tax." In Miyajima (also in Hiroshima Prefecture), a visitor tax is already being used for the island's environmental conservation. ​

 

To the Ministry of the Environment (Chugoku-Shikoku Regional Office): Please add procedures for connecting sick or injured rabbits with veterinary care to the rabbit risk management manual. Please initiate a small-scale pilot program for spaying and neutering as a method of population control that does not rely on culling.

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Why is a petition needed now?

 

Many people visit the island specifically to interact with and feed the rabbits. Since humans provide them with food and water, we also bear responsibility for their health and lives. While the Ministry of the Environment and Takehara City are tracking the number of sick or injured rabbits, there is currently no system in place to ensure that any rabbits found receive medical treatment. Takehara City is currently considering the introduction of a visitor tax. Now—before the use of these funds is finalized—is the time to make our voices heard and urge them to include provisions for rabbit medical care.

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The Reality on the Island:

 

Since July 2024, we have been rescuing sick and injured rabbits on Okunoshima Island relying solely on private donations. By June 2026, we had secured medical care for 28 sick or injured rabbits, with medical expenses totaling approximately 7.5 million yen. There are limits to what can be achieved through individual goodwill alone. → View rescue activity records and financial reports here:  Support via donation

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Sterilization is a way to manage the population without extermination.

 

When the rabbit population grows too large, competition for food and burrows leads to increased fighting and the spread of disease. Using spaying and neutering to gradually control the population is a way to reduce overcrowding and suffering on the island without killing the rabbits. ​

 

What you can do Sign the petition — Simply enter your name and email address on Change.org. Share — Spread the word on LINE, X, Instagram, and Facebook. A single share can lead to the next signature. Follow the island's rules — Feed them only hay and pellets. Do not chase or pick them up.

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Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q. Is there a cost to sign the petition?

A. It is free. After signing, you may see a screen from Change.org asking for a "tip" (donation); please note that this payment goes to Change.org and does not fund the rabbits' medical treatment. Your signature remains valid even if you do not make a payment. ​

 

Q. Can I sign from overseas?

A. Yes, you can. We value the voices of people from abroad who have visited Okunoshima. ​

 

Q. What happens to the collected signatures?

A. They will be submitted to the Mayor of Takehara and the Chugoku-Shikoku Regional Office of the Ministry of the Environment. ​

 

The rabbits of Okunoshima cannot speak up for themselves. Your signature has the power to save even one rabbit from dying without receiving medical treatment.