Social media seal recovers, set for release in Bohai Bay

An injured spotted seal, once a social media sensation in Beihai, was safely transported from the coastal city in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region to northeastern China's Liaoning province on Nov 25, following 13 and a half months of intensive rehabilitation.

The first-class nationally protected animal will be released into its natural Bohai Bay habitat once conditions permit.

First spotted injured near Beihai's Weizhou Island in September 2024, the cold-water seal was rescued a month later. Rescuers set up a specialized habitat with constant-temperature water, provided daily wound care, and enlisted Chinese Academy of Sciences experts to craft a recovery plan.

By the time of transfer, the seal had grown by 0.2 meters and gained 13 kilograms, with all wounds healed. It regained independence for feeding and swimming.

The cross-regional transfer, led by Beihai's ocean bureau and coordinated by Guangxi's agricultural department, was escorted by dedicated staff.