Successful Tourism at the expense of rabbits

Pururu (Cheeky) chan had Periapical abscess, lung abscess, jaw bone dissolved. 

Mahiro had Traumatic Suppurative Periarthritis 

Kiki had neck and jawbone shattered leaving him with malocclusion that needs periodic dental treatment.

12/12/25

Do not forget Ohkunoshima is a tourist spot at the expense for lives of rabbits.

Medical conditions of rabbits on Ohkunoshima are frequently overlooked. 

Pururu (Cheeky)(rescued in Sept 24) had a balloon like lump on her cheek. Initially, we thought it is abscess and can be healed once it’s drained, but her condition involved apical abscess, malnutrition,malocclusion、dissolved jawbone, pneumonia and lung abscess.

Mahiro (rescued in Nov 25) seemed to have broken bone or dislocated hip, but it was incurable septic arthritis and ended up losing his leg.

Kiki, only 600 gram baby rabbit rescued 2 weeks ago, despite suspected injury from rabbit fight, turned out to have neck and jawbone fracture and its left inner ear was totally smashed to irreparable condition due to human related injury.

All of these rescued rabbits were in worse condition than originally anticipated.

The conditions involve infection by multiple factors. Other than inherent disease, causes were wrong diet, rabbit fights and abuse by humans.

Considerable number of rabbits had tumors and the very first rescued rabbit, Ran chan, had cancerous tumor.

I’m probably not the only one speculating there is residual arsenic in the ground.

According to the report by the Ministry of Environment, removal of arsenic was not completed to cover all the grounds. Deep in the woods where rabbits probably expose themselves to arsenic when they dig the ground.

They are not wild rabbits who originally lived on this island. They were dumped by humans many years ago including dumping in later years and multiplied.

Therefore, this is MAN MADE rabbit island.

Then, the Ministry of Environment who manages the island and Takehara city where this island is located are both responsible for lives of these rabbits. Especially, the Ministry allows tourists to feed and give water to rabbits and Takehara City exploits them for tourism.

- Why do rabbits need to suffer for enjoyment for humans? 

- Why are they not protected?　

- Why are medical rescues not accepted positively by MOE?

- Why are rabbits not allowed to come back to the island after medical treatment? Why is coming back home considered as animal dumping?