The impact of unstable food supply on Ohkunoshima rabbits

I am very delicate and can get sick very easily

3/7/26

Unlike dogs or cats, rabbits are not animals that can simply get by on two meals a day.

They possess a digestive tract that requires constant activity; a lack of food intake makes them prone to developing gastrointestinal stasis.

Some argue that the rabbits on the island need water rather than food, but failing to eat small amounts regularly to keep their digestive systems moving puts their lives at risk.

While overfeeding on weekends is harmful, a severe lack of food during the week poses a serious threat to the rabbits' health. Another cause for concern is the reduction in edible vegetation over the past four or five months, caused by wild boars rooting up the turf.

If such delicate rabbits are left unmanaged on Okunoshima and forced to subsist on whatever food tourists choose to feed them, it is hardly surprising that young rabbits could easily fall ill.

The issue of feeding goes beyond the food itself; the close proximity between humans and rabbits also leads to frequent accidents where the animals are stepped on.

Allowing rabbits to roam free on the island without any management is simply not feasible.