Animals at Japan aquarium unhappy about cheaper fish amid economic crunch
JAPAN – Penguins and otters at Japan’s Hakone-en Aquarium, southwest of Tokyo, are not happy about a change in the fish they are being fed.
According to an article from CNN, inflation and rising prices meant a change in diet for the animals. Before, the aquarium offered penguins and otters “aji,” or Japanese horse mackerel. But the aquarium, which is home to 32,000 animals including sharks and seals, was not immune to the economic woes plaguing many global economies.
CNN reports that the price of aji has increased by 20 per cent to 30 per cent since last year and, in a bid to cut costs, the aquarium switched to a cheaper alternative in May. Since then, the penguins are being offered “saba,” or mackerel but the latter has not been well received.
According to CNN, aquarium workers have had to get creative to encourage the animals to eat the new mackerel and have been mixing it with the penguin’s favourite, aji.
“Ideally, they would like to have a full aji, but they are patiently eating mackerel,” aquarium keeper Hiroki Shimamoto told CNN affiliate TV Asahi.
The aquarium says penguins and otters have their preferred type of fish and the aquarium tries its best to accommodate their needs.
“All of the animals at the aquarium are family and we do our best to keep them healthy,” it said. “We would never force any animal to eat what they don’t want. We would like to have as many people (as possible) come and visit Hakone and enjoy our animals.”
