In brief
The Kaikyokan aquarium in Japan has found an innovative way to support a lonely sunfish by displaying photographs of human faces on cardboard uniforms, helping the fish recover from health issues that arose during the aquarium's temporary closure.
The Kaikyokan aquarium in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi prefecture, has taken an inventive approach to address the health concerns of a sociable sunfish. As the aquarium closed for renovations in December, the sunfish appeared to miss its human visitors. To alleviate its loneliness, the aquarium staff decided to implement a unique solution: they displayed photos of human faces attached to a row of cardboard uniforms in the tank. Initially, staff members were worried about the sunfish's well-being as it had stopped eating jellyfish and began rubbing against the tank walls. After considering various possibilities, including parasites and digestive problems, one employee suggested that loneliness could be the root cause of the fish's distress. This novel intervention appears to have had a positive impact, as the aquarium reported that the sunfish was back in good health just one day after the cardboard figures were introduced.Sunfish are a globally distributed species found in oceans worldwide, and while they can live up to ten years in captivity, they are not commonly seen in aquariums due to their intricate care requirements. The sunfish residing in Kaikyokan measures approximately 80cm long and weighs around 30kg. Mai Kato, an aquarium staff member, noted that the sunfish has a curious temperament and would often swim up to visitors when they approached its tank.In a heartening turn of events, following the placement of the cardboard figures, the sunfish was observed looking more lively and even waving its fins, prompting a wave of support from social media users. Many shared fond memories of their past visits and expressed their intent to visit the sunfish when the facility reopens.This creative response isn't unprecedented for Japanese aquariums. During the pandemic, another aquarium in Tokyo devised an innovative video call event for eels, aiming to ease their discomfort from a lack of human interaction. As evidenced by these efforts, aquariums are continuously finding ways to prioritize the mental and emotional well-being of the creatures in their care.
