The number of endangered spotted seals in Liaodong Bay, northeast China's Liaoning Province, is rising steadily as spring warms the region.
Liaodong Bay, located in Panjin City, is one of the world's eight key breeding habitats for spotted seals, a species under first-class national protection in China.
During winter, spotted seals migrate across the Bohai Strait to breed in the ice-covered expanses of Liaodong Bay. As temperatures increase, the population has grown significantly: 181 seals in 2021, 253 in 2022, and 302 in 2023, reflecting an annual increase of about 20 percent. This growth is attributed to improvements in the local environment.
Tian Jiguang, marine animal research director of Panjin's Wetland Conservancy Association, explained that spotted seals breed in the frozen areas of Liaodong Bay each January and February. Newborns spend a month nurturing before shedding their white fur and gaining the ability to swim independently. While adult seals are often seen resting on beaches, younger seals are more active and playful near the water's edge.
Currently, the Liaohe Estuary boasts five habitats for spotted seals, primarily located south and east of Sandaogou Fishing Port in Panshan County. Habitat relocation is influenced by seasonal fluctuations in river water flow, which affect the seals' diet and environment.
Li Yue, head of the local spotted seal protection station, noted, \"The habitat of spotted seals used to be a little bit north from the Mengtou Area. It's a natural phenomenon that the river water undergoes annual flushing in this estuary. As the tide shifts, narrowing the channel and slowing down the flow, the seals relocate to the area south of the Sandaogou fishing port.\"
Since March, protection station staff have maintained round-the-clock surveillance at Sandaogou fishing port to manage the seals' key habitats effectively. Li added, \"Many fishermen now avoid intruding on the habitats of spotted seals, providing them with a better environment and space.\"
In recent years, increased societal attention has led to stronger management of protected areas, resulting in the steady rise of the endangered spotted seal population each year.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
