In brief
In a creative attempt to alleviate a sunfish's loneliness amid aquarium renovations, staff at Kaikyokan in Japan introduced cardboard human cutouts, leading to an improvement in the fish's health and well-being.
In an unusual yet heartfelt initiative, a sunfish at the Kaikyokan aquarium in Shimonoseki, Japan, is being comforted by life-sized cardboard cutouts of humans after the aquarium temporarily closed for renovations. The sunfish had been reportedly struggling with health issues, believed by staff to be linked to loneliness due to the absence of visitors. A recent post by the aquarium on their social media account showcased the cheerful sunfish swimming alongside the lifelike images of human faces attached to uniforms. The staff indicated that this strategy was a "last resort" in hopes of enhancing the creature's state of mind. Remarkably, their efforts appeared successful, as indicated by the aquarium's follow-up post, which reported that the sunfish was back to good health the day after the cutouts were introduced.Following the aquarium's closure in December, staff observed that the sunfish had stopped eating its usual diet of jellyfish and began exhibiting unusual behavior, such as rubbing against the tank walls. Initially, staff members had suspected that the fish might be suffering from parasites or digestive issues. However, the idea that the sunfish may have been feeling lonely without the presence of its human audience emerged as a viable explanation.Sunfish are found in oceans worldwide and are considered a delicacy in Japan. They require specialized care in captivity and can live for up to 10 years. The sunfish at Kaikyokan measures about 80 cm (31 inches) and weighs nearly 30 kg (66 lbs). Staff member Mai Kato noted the sunfish's curious demeanor, highlighting how it would swim towards visitors who approached its tank.Following the introduction of the pictures and uniforms, staff reported that the sunfish appeared to be in better spirits, even "waving its fins" visibly in the water. The aquarium's social media post received widespread support, with users sharing their videos and pictures of the sunfish from past visits and expressing eagerness to see it again upon the aquarium's reopening.This innovative approach is not unique to Kaikyokan; it reflects a trend among aquariums in Japan to find novel ways to engage and entertain their animals. During the pandemic, for instance, a Tokyo aquarium made headlines by arranging a virtual event for its eels, who, like the Kaikyokan sunfish, missed veritable human interaction during extended closures.
