When a Japanese aquarium closed for a six-month renovation project, a sunfish named Mambo stopped eating and began rubbing up against the side of its tank. Aquarists wondered if the creature was lonely. (Mambo is not pictured.) Rodrigo Friscione via Getty ImagesMost sunfish spend their days swimming slowly through the worlds oceans, feasting on jellyfish or soaking up the sun near the waters surface. In the wild, these behemoth creatureswhich can tip the scales at 6,000 poundsare typically spotted alone.But at least one of them seems to appreciate a little company. In Japan, an ocean sunfish appeared lonely after its aquarium shut down for renovations, staff saidso they created human cut-outs to cheer the animal up, reports the Guardians Justin McCurry.In February last year, the Kaikyokan aquarium in Shimonoseki got a sunfish from the southern coast of Kochi in the Pacific Ocean. The goofy-looking, 60-pound creaturewith its round body, gaping mouth and large eyesquickly became a hit with aquarium visitors.For months, the sunfishnicknamed Mamboseemed to be adapting to its new life in captivity. Mambo was known to swim up to the side of its tank when humans approached and generally seemed curious about its new human companions.But, in December, the aquarium closed for a six-month renovation project. Not long after, staffers noticed the sunfish seemed unwell. The creature no longer wanted to eat its provided jellyfish and began rubbing up against the tank windows.At first, they suspected the fish was suffering from digestive issues or was bothered by the loud noises and vibrations coming from the construction work. But then one caretaker suggested the sunfish might simply be lonely. Without visitors stopping by its tank throughout the day, the solitary creature might have begun feeling a little blue.Though the aquarists were initially dubious, they decided to take a chance and run with the theory. They taped photos of human faces to the side of the fishs enclosure, then hung up some uniforms to create the illusion of visitors.Now, it seems their quirky solution might have worked. The next day, the sunfish began eating again and seemed more content overall.The aquariums social media posts about this unusual remedy have racked up millions of views, likes and comments.We were skeptical but decided to do anything we could, Moe Miyazawa, an aquarist at the facility, tells the Associated Press Mari Yamaguchi. I knew [the sunfish] was looking at us when we were placing them, but I never thought it would start eating the next day. Staff have also been making an effort to visit the sunfish more frequently and offer some friendly waves through the windows.Humans are far from the only creatures that feel lonely or benefit from social interactions. In 2023, scientists made headlines after they taught solitary pet parrots to video chat with each otherand revealed that the birds seemed to love the social interactions. And, during the Covid-19 lockdowns, the Sumida Aquarium in Tokyo put out a call for volunteers to video chat with its spotted garden eels, which had reportedly grown shy from the lack of human interaction.As for Mambo, caretakers hope the fish will cheer up for good once construction wraps up and visitors are allowed to return this summer.I hope many people take interest in the sunfish, and when the renovation work is finished, Id like visitors to wave to it in front of the tank, Mai Kato, a staff member at the aquarium, tells the Mainichi Shimbun.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Animals, Biology, Fish, Japan, Social Sciences, Water, wildlife, Zoology