5 minute lesson
Rabbits Everywhere!
What does poisonous gas have to do with a Japanese island full of fluffy bunnies?
Let’s take a trip to Ōkunoshima, an island in Japan where tourists are chased by mobs of rabbits. The island’s curious history can teach us a major lesson about our environment. This video from the BBC makes us wonder at the interconnections of the natural world where small changes can have big, furry effects!
Why It Matters
Rabbit Island reminds us of the complexity of the connections of our world’s ecosystems.
Without predators to keep things in check, the rabbits’ naturally high rate of reproduction leads to an island teeming with the adorable creatures. Though this might not be such a bad thing in this particular case, it teaches us that even small changes to a delicate and complex system like our environment can have major effects.
Invasive species pose threats to all kinds of ecosystems, and it is critical we understand those impacts as we do our best to contain the impact of invasive species and control their spread.
Let's Talk About It
BBC
The BBC is the world’s leading public service broadcaster. Its mission is to enrich people’s lives with programmes that inform, educate and entertain