Japan Aquarium Uses Cutouts to Alleviate Sunfish Loneliness

At the Kaikyokan Aquarium in Shimonoseki, Japan, a sunfish named 'Mambo' exhibited distress during a six-month renovation closure, losing its appetite and showing signs of loneliness. Aquarium staff, suspecting social isolation as the cause, creatively placed cardboard cutouts of people around the tank to simulate visitor presence. Remarkably, this simple solution resulted in Mambo resuming normal behavior, including eating and swimming actively. The innovative approach garnered significant attention online, highlighting the emotional needs of animals in captivity. Staff expressed surprise at the success of the cutouts, which helped restore the sunfish's mental health. The aquarium plans to reopen to the public in the summer, anticipating Mambo will continue to be a major attraction.