ISTANBUL

A Japanese court sentenced a 25-year-old man to one year in prison, suspended for three years, on Monday for abusing and killing rabbits on Okuno Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, Kyodo News reported.

The Kure branch of the Hiroshima District Court found Riku Hotta guilty of harming seven rabbits on the island, which is popularly known as “Rabbit Island” due to its population of approximately 500 semi-wild rabbits.

Judge Wataru Shimazaki called the acts “malicious” but acknowledged that Hotta had confessed and shown remorse, which contributed to the suspended sentence.

Hotta was arrested in January after being seen kicking a rabbit on a street on the island. The rabbit later died from its injuries, and further investigation linked him to other abuse incidents.

Following the case, Japan’s Environment Ministry is considering installing additional surveillance cameras to monitor animal welfare on the island.