Who will speak up for Okunoshima rabbits?

10/22/26

Pic 1/2 are Noah, who was stepped on by a tourist in November 2025 (an incident witnessed by others). Although he was rescued, he had sustained fractures in 4 places—including his femur and pelvis—and passed away 4 days later.

Pic 3/4 are Kiki, who was also stepped on by someone that same November. He suffered fractures to his neck and jaw, as well as a shattered middle-ear bone. Thanks to intensive medical care, he survived, but he was left with lasting injuries that now require him to undergo dental treatment once a month. Both rabbits weighed only about 500g.

Given that the rabbits on Okunoshima are used for tourism, I believe that medical treatment for them is something the local authorities should have been providing in the first place.

There has been criticism directed at those who broke the rules to help with rescue efforts, as well as relentless harassment and slander against those who have raised funds to carry out such rescues.

Is saving a life really such a bad thing?

Every time I see comments like, "Well, the percentage of injured rabbits is low, so isn't it fine as it is?" it’s truly gut-wrenching—it makes me fear that this petition campaign might not succeed.

Rabbits might be healthy today, but by tomorrow, they could be sick or injured.

Would you really tell those rabbits, "We won't help you because the authorities have decided not to provide any care"?

Or perhaps you might consider that this is wrong—that the tourism industry, which treats living beings as disposable, should be held accountable?