An aquarium in Tokyo, Japan has asked the public to video chat with garden eels because they believe they’ve forgotten about humans. Yes, you heard right! This is because keepers have noticed eels hiding in the sand and rarely are coming up (like they would when they’re being touched) and it’s making it difficult to regularly check on their health because of it.
In response to this phenomenon, The Sumida Aquarium has organized a “face-showing festival” where up to 300 people will be allowed to say hello and wave to the critters over Facetime. Since the animals are sensitive, they have asked to refrain from shouting or loud outbursts of any kind.
According to YahooNews, “The "face-showing festival" is scheduled for May 3-5, at the height of Japan's Golden Week holiday period, when many people usually travel.” Although people have been asked to stay home for much anticipated Golden Week, there will be an opportunity to see a part of the outside world and see some critters, even if it has to be online.
If you want to Facetime these eels (and, yes, you’ll need the Facetime app on iOS), the aquarium is asking that you do so during May 3-5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tokyo time. Because of the time zone difference, those of us in the US will be watching in the evening. So that’s May 2-4, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Eastern US time, or 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Pacific.
Photo: GettyImages.