Okunoshima, the “Rabbit Island,” has a visitor history too
The Japanese island of Okunoshima is known for rabbits that roam freely along visitor areas and often approach people. But it is not an entirely uninhabited natural island: it has a resort hotel and the Poison Gas Museum. Its permanent population is small, while tourist facilities welcome visitors.
Illustration is AI-generated and conceptual, not a documentary photo of Okunoshima.
The origin of the present rabbit population is not firmly established: the Japan National Tourism Organization lists different accounts, including the release of a few rabbits by schoolchildren in 1971 or descendants of laboratory animals. Visitors who feed rabbits should follow local rules: do not give them bread, human snacks, onions, or unsuitable vegetables. Remove leftover food so it does not attract other animals.