The Covid-19 pandemic is still evolving very complexly in many countries around the world. Not only has it disrupted the daily lives of people, but this pandemic has also negatively affected various animal species in different ways.
Recently, the staff at the Sumida Aquarium in Tokyo, Japan, discovered that Covid-19 has made the spotted eel (a type of eel) fearful of human presence. Previously, there were many visitors coming to this aquarium for sightseeing and tourism, and the eels, like many other animals, had become accustomed to being around people every day.
However, since the aquarium had to temporarily close due to Covid-19, they no longer have regular encounters with humans. According to the staff, these eels have almost forgotten about the existence of humans and seem scared whenever someone approaches them. Even those who regularly care for them and feed them daily have suddenly become strangers; as soon as someone gets close, they immediately try to hide. This has made it somewhat difficult for them to monitor the health of these creatures.
To alleviate this strange situation, the Sumida Aquarium recently called for the public to FaceTime their eels, helping them gradually remember the presence of humans. The staff will attach several tablets to the sides of the eel tanks, and participants just need to make video calls so the eels can observe them to feel less scared. Additionally, they are encouraged to perform gentle gestures like waving or whispering to the eels. This is also considered a new activity during the Golden Week event – a traditional holiday in Japan, especially as the local people are still limited from visiting public places to prevent the spread of the disease.
At this point, this might be the best solution to help Sumida Aquarium recreate the cheerful and crowded atmosphere it had when it was still open to visitors. However, the question arises whether the eels will be fooled by the images from these soulless tablets? Will their eyes perceive real-life humans differently than the virtual version through FaceTime? And will this approach truly be effective in making them friendlier toward humans, given that the pandemic is still unfolding and it is unknown when this aquarium will be able to reopen to visitors?
However, to comfortably care for and monitor the health of these eels, there may be no other way. It is known that this unique Facetime program will run from May 3rd to May 5th, daily for 2 hours from 10 AM to 2 PM (local time). If you want to experience the feeling of chatting with animals, readers can visit this website. And don’t worry too much about your Japanese skills, as the eels won’t understand what you’re saying; it’s mainly for them to see you on the screen.
According to TheNextweb