An aquarium is asking people to help some eels that are getting lonely. The aquarium in Tokyo, Japan has tanks of garden eels. The creatures are usually very shy. They go into their holes in the sand when someone passes. However, the eels are used to seeing visitors. They stay above their holes so people can see them. The aquarium closed because of the coronavirus emergency. Staff are worried the eels are getting lonely. The eels are forgetting what humans look like. The aquarium wants people to make video calls to the eels. The staff put special tablets in front of the eel tanks.
The lack of visitors means the eels have become very shy. This could make them stressed when visitors start returning. The coronavirus emergency makes it difficult for staff to check on the eels' health because they are staying in their holes. The aquarium tweeted: "They aren't seeing humans so they are forgetting about us....Here is an urgent request. Could you show your face to our garden eels from your home?" The aquarium wants to remind the eels that "humans are friendly". There is a three-day event called a "face-showing festival". People can make video calls to the eels.