In a heartfelt response to a sunfish's loneliness during renovations, the Kaikyokan aquarium in Japan resorts to cardboard cutouts of human faces and uniforms, successfully boosting the fish's spirits and health.
Innovative Solutions as Lonely Sunfish Turns to Cardboard Friends in Japan
Innovative Solutions as Lonely Sunfish Turns to Cardboard Friends in Japan
A sociable sunfish at a Japanese aquarium finds comfort in unorthodox cardboard companions during closure renovations.
In a creative effort to address the apparent loneliness of a sunfish at the Kaikyokan aquarium in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi prefecture, staff members have introduced cardboard friends to keep the fish company during its temporary closure. Following the aquarium's shutdown for renovations in December, the sunfish exhibited worrying behavior, including a refusal to eat jellyfish and rubbing against the tank.
According to aquarium staff, these health issues raised initial concerns about potential parasites or digestive problems. However, one staff member connected the fish’s troubling behavior to a lack of interaction with human visitors, suggesting it may be suffering from loneliness. The aquarium turned to a unique solution, attaching photos of human faces and uniforms along the tank to create a semblance of companionship.
The strategy seems to have worked wonders. The aquarium excitedly announced on its X account that the sunfish "feels better" and is back in good health, gleefully waving its fins after the cardboard cutouts were introduced.
Weighing nearly 30kg (66 lbs) and measuring about 80cm (31 inches) long, the sunfish had formed a bond with visitors since its arrival at the aquarium one year ago. Aquatic staff member Mai Kato noted that the sunfish displayed a "curious" demeanor, often swimming up to onlookers who approached its tank.
Social media users have responded enthusiastically to this clever initiative, sharing their own photographs and fond memories of the sunfish from previous visits, and many have expressed intentions to return once the aquarium reopens.
This isn't the first time Japanese aquariums have introduced inventive methods to counteract animal loneliness. During the COVID-19 pandemic, another Tokyo aquarium organized video call events for their eels to maintain contact with the public, recognizing the impact of visitor absence on their animals' well-being.
