Japanese Aquarium Uses Cardboard Cutouts to Cheer Up Lonely Sunfish

Kaikyokan Aquarium staff in Shimonoseki found a creative solution to improve the health of a sunfish after it became unwell following the facility's closure for renovations.

• The sunfish at Kaikyokan Aquarium in Shimonoseki, Japan, stopped eating and began exhibiting unusual behavior after the aquarium closed for renovations in December 2024.
• Staff initially suspected health issues like parasites or digestive problems but later theorized that the absence of visitors might be causing the fish's distress.
• To address the issue, staff placed cardboard cutouts of human faces and uniforms on the tank, simulating the presence of visitors.
• The sunfish's health improved almost immediately, regaining its appetite and exhibiting normal behavior, such as waving its fins near the tank glass.
• The aquarium plans to reopen in summer 2025, and staff hope the sunfish will resume its interactions with real visitors when they return.

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