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Since the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, we've all been told to stay home and refrain from unnecessary outings. It can get pretty lonely at home, but humans aren't the only ones going online to hang out with friends.
The spotted garden eels at Tokyo's Sumida Aquarium are shy creatures who mostly hide in the sand, only poking their heads out occasionally to see what's going on. Without the usual crowds of visitors during this time, the eels have forgotten what it's like to have humans around them. They have become more reclusive, hiding even from the staff who come to check on them.
To reintroduce the eels to humans, the aquarium – just like the rest of us – has turned to FaceTime. From May 3 to 5, you’ll be able to make a one-on-one FaceTime call to the adorable eels between 10.30am and 2pm. There will be five cameras set up around the fish tank, which you’ll be able to call in using the emails listed on the Sumida Aquarium website.
You can wave and talk to these marvellous creatures just like you would at the aquarium, but please refrain from shouting so you don’t scare them away. Once you’ve had a good look at them – the aquarium asks people to keep calls to five minutes or less – make sure you hang up to give other people a chance to call and see the cute eels pop out of the sand.
And remember, this is FaceTime-only, so you won't be able to call from your Android phone or tablet.
What to do while staying home
Get a sneak peek of the Harry Potter exhibition coming to Tokyo in November
World-famous theatre shows you can now watch for free online
Zoos in Japan are live streaming their animals online