In 1971, a local elementary school located across the strait from Okunoshima released eight rabbits kept at school. Unfortunately the situation didn't allow them to have them any more.
Since there have been no natural predators on the island, they multiplied in number over time. Now probably about 200. Some warmhearted locals bring veggies for them and basins of water seen everywhere are for them.
In fact my friends and I met a man with a large plastic bag of broccoli leaves grown organically. He was from the town I live; he took an hour by car to come to Tadanoumi Port then 12 minutes for a boat ride to the island. He said he had grown broccoli leaves without using chemicals for the sake of bunnies. Worms and bugs ate them first so there are many halls on the leaves and he didn't intend to harvest the broccoli heads, just leaves for the cute lovable islanders.
Many of the English articles say the bunnies are offspring of those kept at the Imperial Army's poison gas factory which stood in this island from 1929 to 1945. Most likely it's not true. I checked some writings and asked about this at the Visitor Center of Okunoshima.
Rather, in addition to the eight rabbits released originally, people left their pet bunnies on the island when they no longer wanted them. One of the panels at the Visitor Center mentions this and discourages the dumping of pet bunnies, saying they would not be able to survive under a different environment.
The island is not all safe. Crows are always around and a big threat to baby bunnies.
Let us hope for the security and welfare of the island bunnies !
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