A Japan aquarium is asking people to FaceTime its eels, who have become withdrawn due to a lack of visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Sumida Aquarium, in Tokyo Skytree tower, has been closed since the start of March.
Its residents have not experienced any human interaction for two months.
“Creatures in the aquarium don’t see humans except keepers and they have started forgetting about humans,” it said on its Twitter account.
“Garden eels in particular disappear into the sand and hide every time the keepers pass by. That is causing difficulties for keepers trying to check on the health of the animals.
“Let us make an emergency plea,” the aquarium added.
“Could you show your face to our garden eels from your home?” it asked.
The ‘face-showing festival’ is during Golden Week when the Japanese normally go on holiday, but people have been asked to stay at home due to the spread of coronavirus.
The aquarium’s request has attracted plenty of support, under the Japanese hashtag #PleaseRememberHumans.
＼緊急開催！チンアナゴ顔見せ祭り！／チンアナゴたちの様子をライブ配信中！ https://t.co/tNKFj0O5Rg
— すみだ水族館【公式】 (@Sumida_Aquarium) May 5, 2020
