Injuries as a result of rabbit fights

Rabbit called Matsuzaka

3/20/26

(The picture captures an early instance where two rabbits attempted to drive Mr. Matsusaka out of their territory.)

When we first visited Okunoshima in 2013, the rabbit population must surely have exceeded 1,000. If the current count stands at 400, it certainly felt as though there were at least three times that number back then. (I suspect that once the rabbit population surpasses a certain threshold, it becomes impossible to count them accurately.)As we toured the island, we noticed water basins placed here and there, accompanied by signage. It appeared, to all intents and purposes, to be a well-managed sanctuary where animals were free to roam. It was only later that we learned the truth: the scavenging of scraps, the replenishment of water, and the cleanup of droppings were all carried out by frequent visitors—while the Kyukamura resort, the city of Takehara, and even the Ministry of the Environment (which ostensibly manages the island) remained completely hands-off regarding the rabbits themselves.

I distinctly remember that there were far more rabbits missing ears or eyes back then than there are today. Given the sheer size of the population, it was only natural that the number of injured rabbits was correspondingly high. Their desperation for food was intense, and one couldn't help but suspect that some rabbits were simply unable to secure any sustenance at all. I recall that no matter how much food tourists scattered, the rabbit population was so dense that virtually no scraps were ever left behind. Nowadays, however—with the number of tourists far outweighing the rabbit population—days of excessive feeding often result in uneaten scraps being left to rot.

What happens when rabbits with strong territorial instincts are allowed to roam freely in a shared space? Naturally, they establish their own territories in which to live. Any rabbit that strays outside its designated territory is liable to be attacked, bitten, and injured. Many of these injured rabbits subsequently contract infections and, after a period of suffering, eventually succumb to their wounds.

Although the current population is said to hover around 400, has the fighting actually ceased? The answer is a resounding "No." While the absolute number of rabbits injured in fights may appear lower now, this is merely a reflection of the smaller overall population; the percentage of rabbits sustaining injuries due to territorial conflicts seems to remain exactly the same as it was in the past. Rabbit fights—whether minor skirmishes or major battles—occur daily, at various times throughout the day.

One fight I witnessed over the past two or three years was particularly brutal: one rabbit chased another at breakneck speed for nearly five minutes until, in the end, the victim bled out and died. It was a fight to the death. On another occasion—the year before he passed away—a rabbit named Matsusaka (whose story is pinned to my profile) was relentlessly pursued and bitten by two other rabbits. (The video I posted captures the initial moments of that altercation.) When someone attempted to intervene and break up the fight, they sustained a severe injury to their hand. That is just how sharp a rabbit's teeth are.

Matsusaka, injured in the attack, went missing for about two weeks but eventually recovered and returned. Yet, despite having miraculously survived that violent rabbit fight, Matsusaka ultimately met his end due to human error. I invite you to read my previous posts to learn the full details of that tragic outcome.

It is also beyond doubt that the massive abscess that ultimately claimed the life of Saki—a rabbit rescued in February who passed away in March—originated from a bite wound sustained during a fight.If you visit the island, you are bound to encounter rabbits suffering from abscesses that have swollen into grotesque lumps. Without medical treatment, those rabbits are virtually certain to lose their lives.

It is not merely the feeding of the rabbits that creates problems; the rabbits' own fighting causes just as many issues.What happens when animals with strong territorial instincts are allowed to roam free on an island where no one takes responsibility? It is hardly surprising that the chaotic conditions we witness there to this very day are the inevitable result.