Will the fish be lonely? According to staff at an aquarium in Japan, that seems to be the case. Staff noticed that the lone sunfish was not looking well, so they provided it with a cut-up human companion.
Shortly after the aquarium in western Shimonoseki closed for renovations in December, the fish started acting strange. The jellyfish, which weighed nearly 28 kg when it was brought to Kaikyokan about a year ago, suddenly stopped eating jellyfish and started rubbing itself against the sides of the aquarium.
Aquarium officials feared that the sunfish caught in Japan's coastal waters were suffering from parasites and digestive diseases. However, some said they may be struggling to adapt to the lack of visitors and the noise and vibrations caused by construction work.
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Although their colleagues were skeptical, the theory turned out to be correct. According to the Mainichi Shimbun, the day after a staff member took a picture of a large photograph of a human face on a uniform lined up next to the tank on tape, the fish regained their appetite and appeared generally satisfied.
An aquarium expert told the paper, “It's possible that he suddenly became lonely without visitors, which may have contributed to his health problems.''
Thanks to their friendly nature, sunfish have become one of the most popular attractions at aquariums. Mai Kato, a staff member, said, “They were very curious, and when visitors approached the tank, they would swim up to us.''
Post about sunfish in the aquarium × The account has received more than 12.6 million views and comments encouraging fish health. Photos inside the facility Instagram The page also receives positive comments.
Most Japanese people encounter sunfish, known for their large eyes, awkward shape and distinctive fins, in captivity, but they are still eaten as bycatch in some parts of the Pacific coast, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The texture is similar to white fish or chicken breast. ”
Kato said she hopes the fish can resume their special relationship with visitors when the aquarium reopens in the summer. “I want many people to take an interest in sunfish. Once the renovation work is complete, I want them to wave in front of the aquarium,” he says.
This is not the first time Japanese aquariums have taken extraordinary measures to ensure animals have contact with humans.
In 2020, amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, staff at Tokyo's Sumida Aquarium discovered that the aquarium's “frightened” population of golden eels had apparently forgotten what humans looked like. He said they were disappearing beneath the sand with increasing regularity.
The aquarium said the pandemic closures have prevented the eels from coming into regular contact with visitors, making them anxious every time staff walk past their tanks. In response, the company placed a tablet facing the tank and asked users to make a calming video call to the eel using its FaceTime app.
“This is an urgent request,” the aquarium wrote. I said, “Could you please show me your face to the Chinese eel from your house?''
