The events described took place in akwarium in the Japanese city of Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The center's employees reported their attempt to help the fish on social media.
The fish and these people have no voice
On December 1, the aquarium was closed for renovationso there were no visitors. According to the facility's staff, a clear change in the behavior of one of the local sunfish fish was noticed almost immediately (It's cool, it's cool).
Animal stopped eating its favorite jellyfish and it started rubbing against the tank glass. Initially, keepers suspected that the fish was attacked by parasites or had digestive problems. But then one of the employees began to suspect that the animal lacks contact with people.
It was decided to test this hypothesis create an artificial audience for the fish. Cardboard boxes were stuck to the aquarium glass with adhesive tape images of people and clothes. It turned out that the fish's mood improved significantly the next day – facility employees report on social media. The animal started eating again and “waving its fins happily,” we read in the entry on the X website.
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As Mai Kato, one of the aquarium's employees, told the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper, this fish was extremely popular before the center was closed. She was also supposed to swim up to people when they approached the glass.
This opinion may be confirmed by the fact that the entry on X describing the situation of the fish was recorded over 12.6 million views and many positive comments.
Artificial audience until summer
The social fish came to the aquarium in February 2024, from the coast of Kochi Prefecture. It was then 79.5 cm long and weighed 27.65 kg. However, for a representative of this species it is not much, because it is a fully developed fish they grow up to three meters long and can weigh up to two tons.
However, the Japanese sunfish will have to wait a few more months for “real” visitors. Again The facility is scheduled to open in the summer.
Source: Mainichi.jp, BBC, Kaikyokan.com