’Poison Fuel Island’, a small island off the coast of Japan, has a chilling historical past that led to it being uninhabited by people for many years.
Okunoshima, because it’s formally recognized, was as soon as a website of terror and was even erased from maps as a result of atrocities dedicated there.
Between 1927 and 1929, it is believed {that a} chemical weapons plant on the island produced over six kilotons of mustard and tear gasoline.
These lethal gases had been used in opposition to China till the top of World Battle II, incomes the island its grim nickname – ’Poison Fuel Island’.
The native inhabitants suffered well being issues resulting from their proximity to the poisonous chemical compounds utilized in weapon manufacturing.
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Employees on the plant additionally fell unwell however had been pressured to maintain quiet in regards to the horrors they witnessed.
These days, the island’s darkish previous is laid naked for all to see on the Poison Fuel Museum.
Reveals embrace the rubber fits, masks and boots worn by staff, a lot of which weren’t hermetic, exposing them to the lethal gases.
The museum additionally shows posters and images depicting the horrific results of the chemical compounds on the human physique.
The island is now dwelling to 1000’s of rabbits, with some speculating they’re descendants of check topics from years in the past. The island has been dubbed ’Rabbit Island’, and looking the bunnies is banned, as are cats and canines.
Photographer Paul Brown visited in 2015 and stated: ”Largely unknown till a few years in the past, Rabbit Island is quick turning into a preferred vacationer attraction.”
He added: ”The second anybody reaches right into a bag, or rustles something resembling paper, they’re rapidly surrounded by rabbits.
”It truly is a tremendous expertise to be surrounded by a fluffy mass of cuteness however after some time, as one will get used to the novelty, the surrealness of the scenario turns into obvious.
”Through the interval 1930-1945, the island was used as a storehouse and testing floor for poison gasoline, and the stays of the amenities can nonetheless be discovered on a stroll across the island which is really fascinating.
”Apparently rabbits had been shipped as check topics but it surely appears doubtless they had been all destroyed together with the gasoline in 1945.
”One other hearsay is a faculty trainer introduced some rabbits for varsity kids to play with and from just some rabbits, there are actually 1000’s of descendants.
”Regardless of the supply, the rabbits proceed to thrive as there are not any pure predators on the island and cats and canines are banned.”