Hey ocean lovers! 🦭✨ There's some fin-tastic news swimming in from northeast China's Liaodong Bay! The population of endangered spotted seals is on the rise, and it's giving us all the warm fuzzies this spring. 🌼
Liaodong Bay, nestled in Panjin City of Liaoning Province, is one of the world’s top eight breeding spots for these adorable marine mammals, which are under first-class national protection in the Chinese mainland. 🗺️❤️
So, what's the seal-ebration all about? Every winter, these spotted seals embark on an epic journey across the Bohai Strait, heading to the icy wonders of Liaodong Bay to start their families. As the temperatures climb, so does the seal count! 📈❄️
Tian Jiguang, marine animal research director of Panjin's Wetland Conservancy Association, shared that the spotted seal numbers have been jumping — from 181 in 2021 to 302 in 2023! That's about a 20% increase each year! 🎉
“The spotted seals breed in the frozen areas of Liaodong Bay during January and February annually,” Tian explained. “Newborns are nurtured for a month before they shed their fluffy white fur and take their first solo swim. While the adults like to chill (literally) on the beach, the pups are full of energy, playing by the water's edge!” 🥰🌊
Right now, the Liaohe Estuary boasts five seal hangouts, mostly south and east of Sandaogou Fishing Port in Panshan County. The seals' choice of spot shifts with the seasons, following the river’s ebb and flow. 🌿🐟
Local heroes like Li Yue, who leads the spotted seal protection station, and Sun Gang, the Fisheries Enforcement Team leader of Panshan County, have been keeping a close eye on these marine cuties. They've noticed that as river tides change, so do the seals' favored spots — smart seals! 🦭🧠
Since March, dedicated teams have been working around the clock at Sandaogou fishing port to make sure the seals are safe and sound. Fishermen are also joining in, steering clear of the seals’ hangouts to give them space to thrive. 🚤🚫🦭
\"Many fishermen previously passed through the seals' habitats when heading out to sea, but now they avoid those areas to give the seals the best environment and space,\" Li said. Talk about seal team support! 👏❤️
With more eyes on our spotted friends and strengthened protections in place, the future’s looking bright for these enchanting creatures. Let’s keep the wave going! 🌊✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
