Compassion for rabbits？

Is feeding and giving them water really helping rabbits?

9/15/26

On 9/4/26, we visited the Chugoku-Shikoku Regional Environmental Office in Okayama to discuss the matter. One of my objectives was to seek an exemption to the ban on removing rabbits from the island, specifically for the purpose of medical rescue. The ban exists to prevent the spread of disease; while tourists themselves could potentially be carriers, the restrictions on rabbits are so strict because humans are considered uncontrollable. However, there appears to be a possibility that medical rescues could be treated as an exception if disease control concerns can be addressed, so I intend to follow up on this. After all, the Ministry of the Environment certainly does not believe that feral rabbits should be exploited for tourism only to die needlessly.

The Ministry of the Environment does not view the presence of rabbits on the island favorably; while it recognizes that feeding them is the primary driver of their population growth, various circumstances prevent it from implementing a ban, making this an ongoing challenge.

If one truly cares about the rabbits, the best course of action is to provide neither food nor water. This is because, should a rabbit fall ill or sustain an injury, the chances of it receiving medical treatment are virtually non-existent. 

I would like you to take a moment to reconsider: is it truly right to wish for the island's rabbits to remain there simply because they bring you comfort? Is it actually in the best interest of the rabbits?