More than 50 spotted seals have arrived at the Liaodong Bay's Dalian Spotted Seal National Nature Reserve in northeast China's Liaoning Province, to bask in the sun and spend the coming winter.
Spotted seals typically migrate to the Liaodong Bay between late October and November each year. Over 100 seals travel annually from the western Pacific to this region to rest and breed.
The Huping Island, situated at the heart of the Dalian Spotted Seal National Nature Reserve, is one of the species' primary land habitats.
According to scientists from the local marine research center, so far, over 50 spotted seals have migrated to the waters around the Huping Island, representing about 40 percent of the total number of seals expected to inhabit the area throughout the winter.
With their chubby bodies, large eyes and distinctive spots, these seals were seen lounging on the beach, seeking out the most comfortable spots to bask in the sunlight.
Experts on spotted seals say that this sunbathing process helps them disinfect and sterilize their bodies.
Meanwhile, some seals were observed swimming in nearby waters, hunting for fish, shrimp, crabs and other crustaceans to feed themselves.
The Liaodong Bay is the southernmost of the eight breeding areas of spotted seals in the world. As the only pinniped marine mammal that can breed in China's waters, the spotted seal is listed as a national first-class key protected wild animal in the country.
According to local observation statistics, the number of spotted seals that visited Liaodong Bay in 2021 was 181, and the number reached 253 in 2022. In 2023, there were 302 such migratory seals recorded in the bay, showing an increasing momentum year by year.
To better understand the migration patterns of spotted seals, researchers attach tracking devices onto rescued spotted seals and those bred through artificial intervention every year.
Over 50 spotted seals show up in northeast China's Liaoning for wintering
Chinese President Xi Jinping extended congratulations to a UN meeting held on Tuesday to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
Xi noted that the question of Palestine is the core of the conflict in the Middle East and concerns international fairness and justice.
Xi said that the pressing task for the Palestinian question is to comprehensively and effectively implement the relevant UN Security Council resolutions to end the war as soon as possible and de-escalate tensions in the region.
The fundamental way out is to implement the two-state solution and promote the political settlement of the Palestinian question, so as to establish an independent State of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital, and realize Palestinian people's right to survival, statehood and return, Xi said.
Xi said that China has always been a staunch supporter of the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, and has always supported all Palestinian factions to strengthen unity, implement the Beijing declaration on ending division and strengthening Palestinian national unity, and achieve internal reconciliation.
Xi noted that China firmly supports Palestine's full membership in the United Nations, and supports a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference.
Xi said that China will continue to work with the international community to jointly end the fighting and killing, support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in continuing to provide humanitarian assistance to the people in Gaza, bring the question of Palestine back to the right track of the two-state solution, and seek an early resolution that is comprehensive, just and durable.
Xi sends congratulations to UN meeting marking Int'l Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People
Xi sends congratulations to UN meeting marking Int'l Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People
