Key Facts
• A picture book inspired DNA research on rabbits in Ōkunoshima, Hiroshima.
• Ōkunoshima, known as ‘Rabbit Island,’ is home to hundreds of rabbits.
• The island was a poison gas production site during WWII (1929–1945).
• Rabbits were used as test subjects and later culled after the war.
• Current rabbits are believed to descend from those released in the 1970s.
• Research began after a co-author of the book questioned genetic links to wartime rabbits.
• Professor Shingo Kaneko and students collected 264 rabbit droppings in March 2024.
• DNA analysis revealed diverse genetic traits among the rabbits.
• Findings suggest repeated abandonment of rabbits on the island over decades.
• The Ministry of the Environment confirmed prior assumptions of repeated rabbit abandonment.
• Abandoning animals violates Japan’s Animal Welfare Act.
• Overfeeding by tourists has led to an unsustainable rabbit population.
• The study highlights human impact on the environment.
• Results will be published in an academic paper and included in the book’s appendix.
• Professor Kaneko believes the book can make research more accessible.
Summary
Research into the origins of rabbits on Ōkunoshima, Hiroshima, was inspired by the picture book Rabbit Island. The island, once a WWII poison gas production site, is now a tourist destination with hundreds of rabbits. DNA analysis of 264 droppings collected in 2024 revealed diverse genetic traits, indicating repeated rabbit abandonment over decades. This challenges the belief that all rabbits descend from those released in the 1970s. The study, led by Professor Shingo Kaneko, underscores the environmental impact of human actions, including overfeeding and animal abandonment. The findings will be published academically and included in the book’s appendix to make the research more accessible. The Ministry of the Environment confirmed the study’s significance, providing scientific evidence for previously assumed rabbit abandonment patterns. The research serves as a reminder of the complex history and environmental challenges tied to ‘Rabbit Island.’
