Key takeaways:

• A sunfish at Japan's Kaikyokan Aquarium showed signs of distress and loss of appetite after the facility closed for renovations.
• The aquarium staff implemented an unusual solution by placing human cutouts around the tank to bring comfort to the fish.
• Within a day of the cutouts being introduced, the sunfish began eating again and has continued to recover.
• This incident highlights the impact of human interaction on animal welfare, prompting discussions on innovative care methods.
• The story gained significant attention on social media, reflecting public interest in animal behavior and welfare.

TOKYO (AP) — A solitary sunfish at a southwestern Japan aquarium faced health challenges following the facility's closure for renovations. Known for its distinctive shape and size, the sunfish lost its appetite and exhibited distressing behaviors, such as banging against the tank walls. Aquarium staff realized the lack of human visitors might have contributed to its condition, prompting them to try an unconventional remedy. According to AP News, they hung their uniforms and set up cardboard cutouts with smiling faces outside the tank.

After this creative intervention, the sunfish started to eat for the first time in nearly a week. Moe Miyazawa, an aquarist at the Kaikyokan aquarium in Shimonoseki, voiced her surprise at the immediate effect of the cutouts, stating, “I knew [the sunfish] was looking at us when we were placing them, but I never thought it would start eating the next day.” The dynamic between the sunfish and its environment serves as an important reminder of the implications of social isolation on animal wellbeing.

This case echoes similar situations in which animal facilities have explored innovative solutions for their residents. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sumida Aquarium employed video calls to engage garden eels that had become withdrawn due to a lack of human presence. Such initiatives have sparked discussions on the need for animals in captivity to have regular interactions with humans, as highlighted in an article from India Times.

The aquarium plans to continue monitoring the sunfish's progress, hoping that the upcoming reopening will allow visitors to reconnect with this unique creature. The story of the sunfish has gathered momentum on social media, resonating with audiences who appreciate the profound bond between animals and humans, and emphasizing how crafted responses to stimuli can promote health and happiness in captive creatures as seen in HuffPost reports.