News Shimonoseki Aquarium provides cardboard companions for lonely sunfish

[thomas]

A sunfish (マンボウ) at the Kaikyokan Aquarium in Yamaguchi, reportedly suffering from loneliness after the aquarium's temporary closure, has been successfully treated with an unusual remedy: cardboard cutouts of human faces. When the aquarium reopened after renovations, the sunfish stopped eating and exhibited unusual behaviour. Staff initially suspected medical issues but later assumed that the lack of human interaction was causing stress. After placing cardboard cutouts of human faces around the tank, the aquarium reported that the sunfish's health improved significantly.

Sunfish, found in every ocean in the world, are a delicacy in Japan. They are believed to be able to live up to 10 years in captivity, though they are not commonly found in aquariums due to the meticulous care needed to host them. The sunfish in Kaikyokan is about 80cm long and weighs nearly 30kg. Mai Kato, a staff member, told Mainichi Shimbun that the sunfish, which arrived at the aquarium a year ago, had a "curious" personality and "would swim up to visitors when they approached the tank". After the photos and uniforms went up, the fish "felt better" the following day and was seen "waving its fins" in the tank, the aquarium said in its X post. The post has been met with an outpouring of support from social media users. Some shared photos and videos of they had taken of the sunfish on previous visits, and others promised to go and see it when the aquarium reopened.

Japan: Aquarium sticks human photos on tank for 'lonely' sunfish

Staff members believe the sunfish stopped eating when the aquarium was temporarily closed because it was lonely.

www.bbc.com

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