Amami rabbit

　I’m visiting Amami Ōshima, designated a World Heritage site in 2021, to research new tours.
Before its World Heritage designation, I observed the endemic Amami rabbit along the forest roads of Sumiyo. However, with the increase in tourists came more incidents, so this time I joined a night tour led by an Amami-certified guide. I enlisted the services of Mr. Akatsuki from Amami Original Service. Though he has only lived in Amami for five years, he knows the observation spots well. During the roughly two-hour tour, we spotted nearly 20 Amami rabbits, along with wild birds like the Ryūkyū ruddy kingfisher and the Ryūkyū scops owl.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　Once feared extinct, their numbers have significantly increased thanks to the ongoing eradication of mongooses and feral cats. They often sit perfectly still on roadsides, looking like little statues. Unlike other rabbits, their ears are small, giving them a distinctly mouse-like appearance. Those accustomed to vehicles show little inclination to move, but if you approach too closely, they scurry away on their short legs. One can only hope that the forests of Amami remain a place where these comical rabbits and humans can coexist.