The number of spotted seals living in Liaodong Bay has increased for three consecutive years.

Xinhua News Agency, Shenyang, March 25th (Reporter Gao Shuang) "According to continuous observation statistics, there were 181 western Pacific spotted seals living in Liaodong Bay in 2021, 253 in 2022 and 302 in 2023, showing an increasing trend year by year. It is estimated that the number this year will increase by about 20% compared with last year. " The staff of the Agriculture and Rural Bureau of Panshan County, Panjin City, Liaoning Province said.

Recently, with the temperature rising and sea ice melting, the western Pacific spotted seal "living" in Liaodong Bay of Panjin City has entered an active period. "In the past week, more than 200 western Pacific spotted seals have been observed sunbathing on the beach every day." Tian Jiguang, director of the Marine Animal Research Office of Panjin Wetland Protection Association, said.

Liaodong Bay, located at the northernmost part of the frozen area in China, is the southernmost of the eight breeding areas of spotted seals in the western Pacific Ocean. As the only pteropod marine mammal that can breed in China’s waters, the "Liaodong Bay Elf" western Pacific spotted seal is listed as a national first-class protected wild animal.

It is reported that the western Pacific spotted seal migrates to Liaodong Bay from November to December every year, and gives birth on the ice from January to February the following year. After supplementing nutrition from April to May, it gradually swims out of the Bohai Sea and embarks on a journey back to the Pacific Ocean.

In recent years, Panjin City has carried out the work of "retiring and returning to humidity", restored 85,900 mu of coastal wetlands and added 17.6 kilometers of natural coastline, creating a good breeding and habitat environment for the western Pacific spotted seals that migrate every year.