The Interesting Story Behind the Famous Japanese Island That Houses Thousands of Feral Bunnies

Great Big Story paid a visit to the famous “Okunoshima Rabbit Island” in Japan to learn why so many feral bunnies have made the beautiful, balmy isle their forever home and why they are as friendly as they are.

Imagine an island filled only with rabbits. Okunoshima is a small island in Japan’s Inland Sea. It’s called “Rabbit Island” because of the thousands of feral rabbits that roam the land. No one knows exactly how they got there, but since the end of World War II, the rabbits have been doing what they do best … multiplying.

A man getting mobbed by a friendly group of feral rabbits on Okunoshima Island.

Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.