Restored wetlands attract spotted seals

The population of spotted seals in the coastal city of Panjin in Northeast China has increased in the past decade, benefitting from the nation's long-term efforts in wetland restoration.

The spotted seal is classed as a national first-class protected wild animal. The seals come to Panjin, Liaoning province from colder waters at high latitudes every December to prey and rest in the area before returning northward in May.

The number of the seals spotted along the city's coastline has risen from 100 to around 200 over the past 10 years, according to the Panjin government.

"The best protection for them is for us to stay away," said Tian Jiguang, head of the Panjin Spotted Seal Protection Association.

Spotted seals have extremely high requirements for their habitat, and even the low murmur of a ship engine will force them to leave.

According to Liu Ye, head of the wetland management division of the Panjin Forestry and Wetland Protection Administration, in the past 10 years the local authorities have taken measures to protect spotted seals, such as by increasing the area of protected wetland, enforcing fishing restrictions and introducing better ecological management.

The area of protected wetlands in the city has increased from 80,000 hectares in 2010 to 124,000 hectares at present, the largest such expansion in the entire country.

After years of persuasion, local fishermen have relinquished part of their working area for spotted seals to rest, and have even agreed to report if they see any seals that have been injured or are stranded.

An observation tower was set up on the core habitat area of the seals to support scientific research.

Wang Xiwu, director of the Nature Reserve Management Office of Liaoning Forestry and Grassland Bureau, said that the government will continue to carry out special enforcement actions for the seals, strengthen the construction of wetland reserves and create a suitable habitat for them.