Spotted seals get special attention

For years, a researcher from the Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute has made meticulous observations of a Liaodong Bay island's special inhabitants. Zhu Chengpei and Zhang Xiaomin report in Dalian.

The dull roar of the engine lasted for about an hour as the boat headed across the aquaculture area to a small island in Liaodong Bay of the Bohai Sea. Ma Zhiqiang, 55, motioned for the boatman to reduce speed so as not to disturb the animals there.

In recent years, Ma, a professor at the Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, has always stayed on the island for several days in spring - alone.