not due to the shape of this island that it got the nickname of "rabbit island" but because it is completely overrun with the cute, fluffy bunnies. The reason for the healthy population dates back to WWII when the island was used to produce chemicals to be used in combat like poison gas. The rabbits were brought to the island to test the effects of the poison, but once the war ended they were freed by the workers. The rabbits you now see around the island may be many generations down the line from these test bunnies. Some reports say the bunnies are descendants of rabbits released by elementary school kids- maybe the truth is a combination of both stories. Regardless, the presence of the rabbits has created a popular attraction to the island.