Myth about Ohkunoshima
- junkoroberson
- Feb 12
- 2 min read
2/4/26
2/12/26
Myth about Ohkunoshima
Some people say rabbits are free and happy on Ohkunoshima (Rabbit Island).
Did you actually watch how they live?
There is no one managing these rabbits. They are not even wild rabbits, but offspring of dumped housed rabbits.
Takehara City where this island is located depends on volunteers to provide water (and maybe food) for rabbits and pick up garbages. Volunteers are exploited as well just like rabbits are exploited.
Rabbits are completely exposed to harsh weather and their life span is extremely short (1-1.5 years maybe) due to disease, human caused injuries, fights among rabbits.
The Ministry has not changed their mind on their position that they will NOT take care of them. And yet, they allowed Takehara City to feed rabbits and water bowls to be placed despite their national park policy.
Consequently, rabbits die left and right due to wrong food, inappropriate diet, being stepped on, being dropped after being pickded up. They also make perfect target for predators such as boars, crows, hawks, owls & snakes once sick and injured. They do not stand a chance.
Are they really happy? My observation of 13 years proves it otherwise.
They are simply neglected and abused by this tourism.
Would you place your pet rabbits or even dogs and cats outside all day, all night in scorching summer and freezing winter? You can understand why they don’t get to live long.
I don’t see how they can justify any business exploiting these animals without care.
Please write to; (they will not change unless they get tremendous pressure from foreign countries)
The Ministry of Environment, Chugoku Shikoku office
Email: REO-CHUSHIKOKU@env.go.jp
Takehara City
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