The Japanese Island Overrun by Friendly Rabbits

Stepping off the ferry onto the picturesque shores of Okunoshima, you don't have to look hard to find the locals. Within seconds, you are usually surrounded by a massive crowd of feral rabbits, all standing on their back legs and begging for food. It is a genuinely wonderful and highly amusing sight. They have zero fear of humans, probably because they know that tourists always arrive with their pockets full of fresh cabbage.

No one is entirely sure how the island became so completely overrun. Some say a local school released a few pet rabbits in the 1970s, and because there are no natural predators like foxes on the island, the population simply became incredibly abundant. Whatever the reason, the result is a stunning wildlife sanctuary that leaves most animal lovers feeling very happy.

However, running a rabbit island isn't always easy. During the recent pandemic, when tourist numbers suddenly dropped to zero, the hungry rabbits became quite intrusive and started digging up the island's decorative gardens to find roots to eat. The local caretakers were left exhausted trying to feed thousands of demanding mouths every single day. "They may look incredibly adorable, but they are absolutely ruthless when they smell cabbage," a tired caretaker observed.

"It is impossible to sit down for a quiet picnic here," laughed a British tourist, gently pushing a rabbit away from her cheese sandwich. "If they hear a plastic bag rustling, they sprint towards you like an army. It's a bit silly really, you end up spending all your holiday money buying expensive carrots from the ferry terminal. But my kids find them absolutely delightful."

The island actually has a very dark history, having been a secret poison gas factory during World War II. But today, the local government is very happy to let the rabbits completely distract visitors from the past.

As the ferry pulls away, returning tourists to the busy, noisy cities of mainland Japan, the peaceful sight of thousands of tiny ears twitching on the beach is a wonderful reminder of how quickly nature can reclaim the land.