The reason rabbits should not be picked up

Lives of baby rabbits are too fragile

Lone baby rabbit ultimately died of starvation

6/17/26

A common sight on Okunoshima is tourists picking up baby rabbits to take photos.

These defenseless little rabbits are easily lifted and handled however the tourists please.

The tourists give no thought to how such actions might affect the rabbits' futures; because the island is a place where no one is reprimanded for their behavior, these unacceptable practices run rampant.

The rabbit in the photos and video was one that had been rejected by its peers. Even though it repeatedly tried to join the others to eat, the adult rabbits would not allow it, leaving it to live in isolation.

This particular rabbit was picked up by a tourist who intended to carry it to another area to show their family; however, after being warned, the tourist placed the rabbit back on the ground.

When tourists pick up a rabbit, the animal often struggles, leading the tourist to accidentally drop it. A significant number of rabbits suffer fractures in this way; past rescue cases have included instances where amputation was necessary due to such injuries.

Even if a fracture is avoided, moving the rabbit to a different location presents further issues. The island is home to countless territories, none of which are particularly large.

When a rabbit is carried and set down elsewhere, it is often placed outside its own territory. Being set down in unfamiliar territory frequently leads to attacks by other rabbits—a matter of life and death for the animal.

Incidentally, this rabbit struggled to find food and was soon found dead.