A WESTERN Pacific spotted seal, a first-class nationally protected species in China, was sighted off the coast of Nan’ao in Dapeng New Area on July 1, marking a rare appearance of the “panda of the sea” in southern Chinese waters.

The sighting was reported by a local resident who observed the seal surfacing for air before it sought rest in a harbor area. The witness maintained a safe distance to avoid startling the animal while capturing photographic evidence.

Tian Jiguang, director of the Marine Animal Research Office at the Panjin Wetland Conservation Association, identified the animal and noted that the western Pacific spotted seal is the only pinniped species known to breed in China. Its primary habitat is located in Liaodong Bay in the Bohai Sea, approximately 2,000 kilometers north of Shenzhen.

The species typically follows a seasonal migration pattern, moving into the Bohai Sea between November and December to breed on ice floes before departing by mid-May.

According to Tian, this individual likely strayed off course during its migration. He added that the seal’s presence, however brief, indicates that Shenzhen’s coastal waters possess sufficient prey and ecological health to support the species.

In response to the sighting, wildlife experts and local authorities have issued a public safety advisory. As a protected wild animal with strong self-defense instincts, the spotted seal must not be approached. Official guidelines urge the public to maintain a minimum distance of 50 meters and prohibit boats from chasing, circling, or cornering the animal. Furthermore, feeding or touching the seal is strictly forbidden to prevent stress-induced reactions or injury to both the animal and the public.

Authorities have requested that any sightings of injured or stranded seals be reported immediately to marine fisheries officials or professional rescue organizations.

(SD News)