Tourist Attraction Home to 900 Rabbits
Rabbits Attack Visitors Due to Their Behavior
[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seung-woo] The Japanese island of Okunoshima, commonly known as "Rabbit Island," is struggling due to tourists. The island's famous rabbits are being killed because of tourists' reckless behavior.
On the 16th (local time), Hong Kong's South China Morning Post reported that predators such as crows and wild boars are increasing due to tourists visiting Rabbit Island.
Rabbit Island is a 1 km² island located about 70 km east of Hiroshima Prefecture and is currently a national park under the Japanese Ministry of the Environment. In 1902, a Japanese military fortress was established there, and later, a secret factory for manufacturing and testing poison gas operated on the island. After Japan's defeat in 1945 and the withdrawal from the island, the U.S. military used it as an ammunition depot during the Korean War.
The nickname "Rabbit Island" originated in 1971 when middle school students from mainland Japan released eight rabbits on the island. Currently, about 900 rabbits inhabit the island, attracting approximately 360,000 tourists annually.
However, recently, wild boars, crows, and even rats have invaded the island, causing problems. Tourists have ignored warnings not to feed the animals and have given the rabbits lettuce, carrots, snacks, and leftover lunch side dishes. This has attracted not only rabbits but also other wild animals seeking food.
The island manager stated, "If rabbits eat other foods, it can be harmful to their health. There are frequent cases where weak or sick rabbits are attacked and killed by crows or swarms of rats."
Professor Kevin Short, a cultural anthropology professor and zoologist at the University of Tokyo, analyzed that it is not surprising that rabbits are being killed. Since they are non-native species introduced from outside, they are easy targets for aggressive flocks of crows. Professor Short added, "There are often cases where crows swallow newborn rabbits whole."
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