Animal Right Activists Criticize Goldfish Exhibition in Taipei

TaiwanPlus News

Art Aquarium Taipei is an art exhibition incorporating hundreds of goldfish. However, the event has drawn criticism from animal right activists who say the fish aren't being treated well.

Transcript

00:00Hundreds of goldfish, moving gracefully along with music, lighting, fragrance, and art.

00:08A mesmerizing scene.

00:10This is part of Art Aquarium Taipei.

00:13It is the first time for the Japanese exhibit to be held in Taiwan.

00:31The event first debuted in Tokyo in 2007

00:34and has since hosted annual limited-time exhibitions across Japan.

00:39In May 2022, a permanent exhibition was established in Tokyo's Ginza district.

00:45According to Art Aquarium,

00:47the exhibition has drawn a total of 12 million visitors as of August this year.

00:52The goldfish on display, along with the surrounding,

00:55are meant to recreate the atmosphere of Japan under the last shogunate,

00:58a time when goldfish were appreciated for their beauty

01:01and also symbol of luck and prosperity.

01:04Despite the beauty of the event,

01:06it has drawn criticism from animal rights activists,

01:09who say it is harmful for the fish.

01:11Speaking about the exhibition in Japan,

01:13veterinarian Pan Shiying, who specializes in fish,

01:17expressed concern,

01:19stating that the animals appear to be unhappy with limited movement.

01:23The condition of the fish is not very good.

01:25But I have to emphasize one thing here.

01:28The condition of the fish here is not very good.

01:30It doesn't mean that the fish inside are sick

01:32or that the condition of the water is very bad.

01:34It just means that the mental condition of the fish inside has become very abnormal.

01:38For us, that is a situation where the fish is extremely bored

01:41or extremely helpless.

01:44You will find that there are a few fish that still float,

01:47there are still a few movements,

01:48but there are a few fish that are already standing still.

01:51Another of Pan's concerns about the event is its lighting,

01:55as goldfish have vision comparable to that of humans.

02:18In response to the concerns raised by Pan,

02:20the exhibition consultant stated

02:22that they have adjusted the lighting

02:24to ensure it does not cause discomfort to the fish.

02:27The lights transition gradually,

02:29giving fish time to adapt.

02:31The consultant also explained

02:33that fish eyes respond to light and color in a developmental manner

02:37and are not capable of adapting to all colors of light immediately from birth.

02:51Amur right activists have been protesting the exhibition for some time,

02:55and organizers have assured them

02:57that the fish are well taken care of.

02:59They have staff monitoring the health of the fish around the clock.

03:21The exhibition is scheduled to run until May 2025,

03:25giving visitors plenty of time to see the fish

03:28and perhaps get some of their luck and prosperity.

03:31However, Amur right activists will continue to monitor the event

03:35to make sure the fish remain happy and healthy.

03:50Hang Xu and Zeng Yiqi for Taiwan Plus.

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