Are these rabbits fine? or something should be done?

3/27/26

A severely ill rabbit, living in isolation to escape from the other rabbits

3/27/26

Are the Rabbits of Okunoshima Truly Pitiful?

Many first-time visitors to the island fail to notice the "dark side" of Okunoshima. I, too, was once among them.

People are thrilled by the sight of so many adorable rabbits flocking around them. It is precisely this experience that likely ensures the island's popularity never wanes. Furthermore, when one sees nothing but photos of cute rabbits on social media, it is entirely understandable—and indeed, only natural—to assume the place is a charming and idyllic destination.

Some visitors, depending on the timing of their trip, recognize the deep-seated problems from the very moment they arrive. Others visit repeatedly before finally realizing the severity of the situation, leaving them utterly aghast. By staying on the island for extended periods—witnessing events unfold over the course of several weeks during early weekday mornings, Saturday nights, long holiday weekends, and even on days with inclement weather—we were able to grasp the true reality of Okunoshima.

Most people assume that the island's rabbits are being properly managed. Indeed, they would have no reason to suspect otherwise.However, when one observes the rabbits with the knowledge that they are not being managed, they present a completely different impression—one that comes as a shock to many.In particular, those who keep rabbits as pets often wear expressions of bewilderment and disbelief.

Even so, many people still argue that living freely outdoors is surely preferable to being confined within a cramped cage. This sentiment, however, tends to arise only when the rabbits appear healthy—running about energetically or interacting harmoniously with one another.Observing this seemingly peaceful and happy scene, many are quick to assert that the rabbits of Okunoshima are not, in fact, pitiful creatures.

Conversely, for those like us—who have witnessed countless sick and injured rabbits, and who have endured the agonizing experience of watching them suffer in pain as they slowly succumb to death—the true depth of Okunoshima's moral failing becomes painfully clear. It is a situation that can only be described as utterly cruel.

The short-lived rabbits dying on the island are not simply falling victim to "natural selection." It is fundamentally impossible—and indeed, absurd—to expect domestic rabbits, which lack the physical constitution to survive in the wild, to remain healthy and thrive without any form of care or intervention. It is tantamount to telling a domestic rabbit to live in the wild—in an environment where it cannot naturally forage or drink as it would in its natural habitat. I ask you to imagine your own pet rabbit living on Okunoshima Island. Picture an environment characterized by ceaseless territorial conflicts—both within and outside established boundaries—where a rigid power hierarchy dictates who gets to eat and who does not. Imagine falling ill or sustaining an injury, yet having no one to take you to a veterinary clinic; where sickness progresses silently, and a life eventually fades away, unnoticed by anyone.

No matter how many perish, new rabbits are born in a ceaseless stream to take their place. To the casual observer, Okunoshima might appear to be an island teeming with rabbits living happily and freely at all times.It is precisely this illusion, I fear—with a sense of utter despair—that serves as the very reason why efforts to improve the welfare of the rabbits on Okunoshima have failed to gain traction.