Memorable Rabbits Part 10 Beach Mama

Beach Mama had skillset to survive on Ohkunoshima island.

9/1/26

The rabbit we called "Beach Mama"—who lived at the swimming beach—was a highly intelligent animal that had given birth many times; whenever she lost a mate, she would quickly find a new one. In this area, crows would perch on the branches by day, scouting for rabbits, while wild boars roamed at night; consequently, these rabbits were far more alert to predators than those living in front of the main building. The population density was lower here, and the rabbits appeared to be in good health.

Beach Mama seemed to possess outstanding survival skills, even among those rabbits. We last saw her in February 2026—by which time she would have been over five years old—and she was a rabbit we had encountered on every visit to the island.

We had been looking forward to seeing her again this time (in August 2026), but the beach was deserted. The heat has been getting worse every year, but this time it was extraordinary—a heat that felt not just hot, but stinging. If humans feel it that way, surely the rabbits, clad in fur, wouldn't stand a chance.

In heat intense enough to make even healthy rabbits fall ill, there is no way that rabbits already suffering from sickness or injury could possibly survive. Such extreme weather is bound to have an adverse effect on the ecosystem as well.

Every time I visit the island and look into the faces of the rabbits, I brace myself for the possibility that this might be the last time. I find Okunoshima to be an infinitely cruel place.