Japan’s Rabbit Island in danger of becoming Boar Island, tourists asked to follow feeding rules

One of Japan’s most beloved attractions, Rabbit Island, located in the Seto Inland Sea, is now facing the risk of becoming Wild Boar Island. The island, known as Okunoshima, is home to over 500 wild rabbits, which have become accustomed to visitors who bring food to feed them. However, researchers have noticed that boars, which are not native to the island, have also begun to inhabit Okunoshima and are eating the leftover rabbit food.

Researchers from Fukushima University and the National Institute of Technology’s Kure College have confirmed that boars have bred on the island since around 15 years ago. The boars are believed to have swam over from the neighboring island of Omishima, where they were first spotted around the same time. While the presence of boars is not immediately dangerous, they can exhibit aggressive or destructive behavior and may begin to harm rabbits, visitors, or the island’s infrastructure.

To prevent Okunoshima from turning into Wild Boar Island, the joint committee formed by the Ministry of Environment and the local tourism board has been asking visitors to follow strict feeding rules. Visitors are asked to put out only the amount of food needed for the rabbits and to collect any leftovers to dispose of properly. The committee is now urging visitors to be mindful of the amount of food they set out and to avoid actions like dumping leftover food in piles before leaving the island.

By following these guidelines, researchers hope that the island can maintain its delicate ecological balance and avoid having to resort to culling the boar population altogether.